§ 84. Mr. Wilkesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in how many Colonies is there at present no provision made for a criminal appeal; and what are his proposals for the future.
Mr. Creech JonesIn all the territories for which I am responsible provision exists for criminal appeals from inferior courts to the Supreme Court or High Court as the case may be. Criminal appeals from the Supreme Court or High Court to a Court of Appeal lie in all such territories except Bahamas, Bermuda, British Honduras, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gibraltar, Malta, Mauritius, and St. Helena. In British Honduras and Fiji 291W provision for appeal facilities is now under consideration. As to the rest, provision for such appeals has not so far been found practicable mainly owing to the small size of the territories and their isolation. I am however looking at the problem again. In all cases however appeal by special leave lies to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.