§ 136. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what likelihood there is of abrogation or amendment of sedition and deportation ordinances in the colonies; if he will submit an annual report of cases of sedition, nature of charges and sentences; if a public defender will be made available to those so charged; and if all emergency regulations imposed under wartime defence regulations in the colonies are shortly to be repealed.
395W
Mr. Creech JonesAs regards sedition and deportation ordinances I cannot usefully add to the reply given on 22nd May to the hon. Member for Merioneth (Mr. Emrys Roberts). As regards the second part of the Question I will consider my hon. Friend's suggestion, although I am somewhat reluctant to add to the numbers of special returns required of Colonial Governments. In reply to the third part, I doubt the wisdom of making arrangements of a special nature for the defence of persons charged with sedition. In a number of Colonies there is already provision for assistance for persons unable to provide for their own defence. As regards the last part, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Sutton (Mr. S. Marshall) on 16th October.