§ 69. Mrs. Braddockasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will order a full inquiry into the conditions of British Service men serving sentences in Hanzin Prison, Swaziland, Africa, full details of which have been sent to him.
§ Mr. KirkThe four British soldiers who were serving sentences in Manzini Prison for civil offences were properly tried by the civil courts in Swaziland. They were treated as special class prisoners with a European diet and shared a cell in a separate part of the prison. After the escape and recapture of two of them on 25th May, these conditions deteriorated mainly because the cell was damaged when they escaped, and while repairs were being carried out they were detained in the main part of the prison. As a result of representations 189W made by their regiment, they were put over a week ago in one cell with three other Europeans. This meant that the cell contained slightly more than the authorised maximum numbers. It was described by the regimental medical officer as tolerable but spartan.
I was aware of the conditions of these Service men in this prison a short time before the hon. Member wrote to me about the matter and, as I have explained, after representations made by their regiment action was taken to improve them.
I have been in close touch with my noble Friend the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations and for the Colonies, and arrangements have been made for the prisoners to serve the last part of their sentence in this country. Removal Orders have been made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies, under the Colonial Prisoners Removal Act, 1884, and the prisoners were flown out of Swaziland on an R.A.F. aircraft this morning. They will be flown to this country by R.A.F. aircraft via Nairobi and Aden.
In these circumstances, I do not feel that an inquiry would serve any useful purpose.