§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Antonis Procopiou Salamentos who was sentenced to life imprisonment and escaped from the Nicosia Mental Hospital in Cyprus on 1st June, 1958, has been recaptured; on what grounds he was transferred to the mental hospital; and what arrangements were there made for his safe custody.
§ Mr. ProfumoHe has not yet been recaptured. He was transferred to the mental hospital on the certificate of the medical authorities as being in need of observation and treatment. He was in a coma when removed from the Central Prison and in view of this and of the considerable diversion of effort required to provide a military guard at the asylum his custody was left entirely to the asylum staff.
§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Polycarpos Georghiades who escaped from the Central Prison, Nicosia, in Cyprus, on 1st May, 1958, has been recaptured; and how many previous escapes he had made.
§ Mr. ProfumoThe answer to the first part of the Question is "No." With regard to the second part, I have nothing to add to the information given to my hon. Friend in reply to his question on 10th June.