Southworth Commission (Report)

HC Deb 24 May 1960 vol 624 cc21-2W

Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about the findings of the South-worth Commission.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make the Southworth Report on incidents during the Prime Minister's visit to Blantyre available in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Iain Macleod

Copies of the Report have been placed in the Library and it is on sale through the Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations. I am sure the House will be grateful, as I am, for the thoroughness with which Mr. Justice Southworth has completed his task.

As the House will recall from my statement of 2nd February, the Commission was established primarily because of the allegations made against individual members of the Nyasaland Police after the incident at Blantyre on 26th January.

I made it clear in my original statement that I did not accept the allegations made against the Police and I am glad that the Inquiry confirms that they handled the situation calmly and efficiently.