§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have been held in detention on St. Helena as a result of allegations of non-payment of debts; how long they were held before their cases were heard in court; and what sentence they received. [4871]
§ Sir Nicholas BonsorThe power of arrest arises only where an alleged debtor is about to leave St. Helena and has failed to furnish security for his appearance before a court. In the one instance during the last five years when the power was exercised, the alleged debtor was held for three hours and five minutes and was released on security being given. No question of sentence arises in such cases.