§ Mr. R. Morganasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the number of British planters in Burma, Sumatra and Java who are prisoners of war in Japanese hands, the representative Colonial Office committee will extend to them also any benefits which may arise on their release to British planters in Malaya and Borneo.
§ Colonel StanleyAs stated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wall-send (Miss Ward) and my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Portsmouth, South (Sir J. Lucas) on 4th October, the Colonial Office Conference is concerned only with those who were resident in Hong Kong, Malaya, North Borneo and Sarawak. The problems 1957W affecting residents in Burma are matters for the consideration of the Government of Burma and the Secretary of State for Burma, and those affecting British subjects resident in the Netherlands East Indies are for the consideration of the Foreign Office. I will consult my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of State for Burma on my hon. Friend's suggestion.
§ Mr. R. Morganasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give the terms of reference of the Colonial Office committee which is inquiring into the problems arising out of the internment in Japanese prisoner of war camps of Malayan and Hong Kong land volunteer forces and civilian internees resident in Malaya, Hong Kong and North Sarawak.
§ Colonel StanleyI refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 4th October to my hon. Friend the Member for Wallsend (Miss Ward) and my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Portsmouth, South (Sir J. Lucas) which indicates the nature of the problems being studied by the Conference.