HC Deb 19 April 1967 vol 745 cc113-4W
105. Sir D. Kaberry

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, if he is aware that Mr. H. P. Nursten, a British citizen at present resident and engaged in business in Zambia, has been arrested and detained in custody on unspecified charges by the Zambian police, acting on the orders of the President of Zambia; what instructions he has given to the British High Commissioner in Lusaka to make representations on behalf of Mr. Nursten to secure his immediate release from custody; and if he will make a statement generally on the matter.

Mr. George Thomas

Mr. Nursten was arrested on 13th April under Section 31 (A(I)) of the Zambian Preservation of Public Security Regulations, 1964, from which it would appear that in the opinion of the President, it was necessary to exercise control over him to preserve public security.

I instructed our High Commissioner in Lusaka immediately to make suitable representations to ensure that Mr. Nursten and other United Kingdom detainees are correctly treated and that access would be granted to a member of the High Commissioner's staff and to legal advisers.

My latest information is that all these points have been met by the Zambian authorities and that reasons for the arrests have been given to the persons concerned.

A member of our High Commission has since visited the three United Kingdom detainees. He found them in good health and cheerful and they had no complaints to make about their treatment.

Mr. Ian Lloyd

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether he will make a statement on the arrest by the Zambian security police of Lieutenant-Colonel J. M. Arnott, Mr. H. P. Nursten, Mr. Ian Haigh, Mr. Cecil Swift, and Mr. B. Warren on Thursday, 13th April;

(2) what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's High Commissioner in Zambia to ensure that the proper interests of five of Her Majesty's subjects arrested in Zambia on Thursday, 13th April, have been safeguarded.

Mr. George Thomas

Mr. Nursten, Lieutenant-Colonel Arnott and Mr. Haigh, United Kingdom citizens, and Mr. Swift a Rhodesian citizen, were arrested on 13th April under Section 31(A) of the Zambian Preservation Public Security Regulations, 1964.

I have so far had only an unconfirmed report that Mr. Warren, a Canadian citizen, was also arrested.

I have nothing further to add to the reply already given to the hon. Member for Leeds, North-West.