§ 2.44 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I beg to ask Her Majesty's Government the following Private Notice Question: Whether it is true, as reported in the British Broadcasting Corporation's news this morning, that the Federal Authorities of Rhodesia and Nyasaland have forcibly deported Mr. Stonehouse, a Member of the House of Commons in the United Kingdom Parliament.
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, there is no further information available to me at the moment than is available to the 651 noble Viscount, which he has quoted from the B.B.C. this morning, but I know that the Prime Minister of the Federation has made a full statement in Salisbury on the reasons for the expulsion of Mr. Stonehouse, and details of that should soon be available to me and to noble Lords. I would add that any restraint on a British subject gives proper cause for anxiety, and that of a Member of Parliament is of course of particular concern to both Houses here. I have therefore asked the High Commissioner in Salisbury for a full report of all the events which led up to the departure of Mr. Stonehouse from Northern Rhodesia. I have naturally taken the highest legal advice, and there can be no doubt that the Federal Government have acted entirely within the legal rights conferred on them by the United Kingdom Parliament in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (Constitution) Order of 1953.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I am obliged for many parts of the Answer which the Leader of the House has given me, and I share with him the anxiety about an event of this character within the Commonwealth concerning a Member of the United Kingdom Parliament. May I ask whether the Government now propose to make representations to the Government who are responsible for this act, and whether in any case an inquiry will be held into the matter?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, as I have said, the Federal Government have acted completely within the law as laid down by this Parliament. All I can do at the present time is to ask for a full account of the action before I make up my mind as to any further step that might be needed.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHI agree. But I suppose it would be possible to make early representation to the authorities of the Federation that acts of this kind are not likely to induce confidence in the African population in the Parliamentary system.
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, I have no doubt that the Federal Prime Minister and all concerned in Rhodesia in this tricky and dangerous situation gave careful consideration to these points before they acted.
LORD REAMy Lords, could the noble Earl explain when and how the information he expects to receive from Salisbury will be available to Members of this House and the other place?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, I gather that it is now public property in Salisbury and therefore will arrive here in the usual way in the newspapers and on the tape. But of course I shall get an account of it through the High Commissioner.