§ Mr. David Adamsasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies how many members of the Sama Samaj Party and the United Socialist Party of Ceylon are still in prison; how many of the detained members had escape from custody; and whether he will consider raising the ban on these parties in view of the anti-Fascist nature of their declarations?
§ Mr. Harold MacmillanAccording to my latest reports ten members of the 551W Sama Samaj Party are at present detained under Defence Regulations in Ceylon. The detention of four more has been conditionally suspended by the Governor after receiving the reports of an Advisory Committee on objections lodged by all the detained persons mentioned above. Four detained members of the party escaped from custody and have not been reapprehended. As far as I am aware, no detention order has been made against a member of the United Socialist Party of Ceylon but the party itself has been proscribed under Defence Regulation. The former general secretary of the party made objection to the proscription, but the Governor, after referring the objection to an Advisory Committee, has informed me that the order cannot be varied. My Noble Friend sees no reason to intervene in the matter.
§ Mr. David Adamsasked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies how many enemy aliens are at present detained in Ceylon; whether these detainees have a similar right of appeal to that granted in this country; and, if so, how many appeals have been upheld and how many refused?
§ Mr. MacmillanAll enemy aliens who were interned in Ceylon were transferred to India in the early part of this year with the exception of a few individuals whom the Government of Ceylon decided to release. The Governor of Ceylon is being asked for information as to the arrangements in India for periodical reviews of the cases of those transferred.