asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is satisfied as to the truth of the allegation in the Hailey Report that native prisoners are leased to private persons in Southern Rhodesia; whether this practice has been abolished in all Colonial territories under the sole control of the Crown; and, as the Southern Rhodesian practice is a violation of the International Forced Labour Convention, what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I am aware of the statement in Lord Hailey's "Survey" that in Southern Rhodesia prison labour is hired to private persons. The practice obtaining in Southern Rhodesia was fully considered prior to the acceptance on behalf of that Colony of the obligations of the Forced Labour Convention. Prison labour in the Colony is, I understand, always under the complete control and direction of the prison authorities, and it was held that this arrangement did not involve "hiring" and was not contrary to the provisions of the Convention.

Do His Majesty's Government approve of this practice, and if not, will they give an expression of their views to the Governor of Southern Rhodesia?

I understand that the view of the authorities in this country is that the practice in Southern Rhodesia does not constitute hiring, and that, therefore, it is not contrary to the Convention which we have signed.