§ 40. Mr. Nigel Fisherasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, following the appointment of two extra commissioners to investigate complaints of intimidation in Rhodesia, he will make a statement on this subject.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeAt the request of Lord Pearce, I appointed two additional commissioners for the specific purpose of investigating allegations of intimidation, pressure and obstruction. They began work in Rhodesia on 14th February and, like all the other commissioners, are responsible to Lord Pearce.
§ 49. Mr. William Priceasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent communication he has had with Mr. Ian Smith about Mr. Garfield Todd.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeAs my right hon. Friend the Minister of State said in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Hackney, Central (Mr. Clinton Davis) on 14th February, representations have been made to the Rhodesian authorities on a number of occasions. The Rhodesian authorities informed us that they would hold a judicial review of Mr. Todd's case. This has been done and continued detention was recommended by the review tribunal. They also informed us, and announced publicly, that on health and humanitarian grounds they had transferred Mr. Todd from prison and detained him at his own home.—[Vol. 831, c. 7–9.]
§ 58. Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the United Kingdom representative abstained on the Security Council resolution of 28th February regarding the maintenance of sanctions on trade with Rhodesia.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeThe United Kingdom abstained because we consider United Nations' Resolutions on Rhodesia to be unnecessary and unhelpful pending the publication of the report of the Pearce Commission.
§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth 218W Affairs whether transcripts of broadcasts made by members of the Pearce Commission on Rhodesian radio are now available for placing in the Library of the House of Commons.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeCopies of these transcripts were placed in the Library of the House on 3rd March.
§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the arrangements being made by the Rhodesian authorities to bring Mr. Garfield Todd and his daughter before a judicial review tribunal; and if he will ensure that they are allowed legal representation.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeI understand that the cases of Mr. Garfield Todd and his daughter were reviewed last week by a judicial tribunal which has recommended that they should remain in detention. It was open to Mr. Todd and his daughter to appear before the review tribunal or to be legally represented at its hearings if they wished. I understand that they elected not to appear before the tribunal and so far as I am aware they also decided against legal representation.