§ Mr. SCURRasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to a circular issued 1668W to heads of Government Departments in Kenya Colony authorising the employment of native prisoners in the detention camps as labourers by the Uganda Railway and the Public Works Department; whether the work performed by such prisoners is different in character from that performed by labour contributed by the tribes; and, if not, what is the distinction in treatment of persons convicted of crime and persons who are not convicted?
§ Mr. AMERYYes, Sir. A copy of the Detention Camps Ordinance is being placed in the Library of the House. I am not aware of any distinction as to work between persons detained under the Ordinance and voluntary labourers. The distinction in treatment is that the former work under control and do not receive wages. With regard to the reference to "persons convicted of crime," the whole object of the Ordinance is to provide a means of detention, not involving association with ordinary criminals, for persons committed for offences not involving moral turpitude.