HL Deb 02 February 1955 vol 190 cc901-2

2.36 p.m.

LORD OGMORE

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the terms of the amnesty offered to members of Mau Mau, and what are the results to date.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (LORD LLOYD)

My Lords, terrorists who surrender while the new offer is in force will not be prosecuted by the Government for any offence connected with the Emergency committed before January 18, but will be detained. The length of detention will depend on the circumstances of each case. By January 29, fifty-five terrorists had surrendered in response to the new offer.

LORD OGMORE

My Lords, may I ask the Minister whether the Government in Kenya and the Government at home are satisfied with the rate of surrender, and whether they think that, in the circumstances, the surrender policy is having the result for which they hoped?

LORD LLOYD

My Lords, I do not think that an immediate rush of terrorists to surrender was ever looked for. It is hoped, nevertheless, that one of the effects of "Operation Hammer" will be to break up the gangs and to give the less fanatical members opportunities to surrender. News of the offer will obviously take time to reach scattered groups in the forest, although all means are being used to spread it. The Kikuyu are said to be slow to make up their minds, and therefore it is too early at this stage to say what the prospects of success are; but it is not the intention that the offer should remain open indefinitely. On the whole, I think the offer has been well received, although not in all quarters, and so far it would be premature to say that we are not satisfied with the results that have been achieved. I think we must wait a little and see.

EARL JOWITT

The noble Lord talks about fifty-five. Have the Government any idea how many people there are who ought to surrender? Does it run into thousands—3,000, 4,000 or 5,000? Is there any estimate at all of the figure?

LORD LLOYD

I must be frank with the noble and learned Earl. No doubt there is an estimate but I have not it in my mind at the moment. I will let the noble and learned Earl know.