asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will now make a statement about the situation in Basutoland following the banning of public meetings and the detention of 50 persons in Maseru.

The High Commissioner has reported that a further seven persons were arrested on charges of intimidation in addition to those mentioned in the statement given to the House on 30th March. Of these, two have been convicted, two were acquitted, and the cases against the remaining three are still under investigation.

Could the hon. Gentleman say whether the ban on the meetings has now been lifted? That is the more serious point.

Yes. I think so. The immediate cause of this situation, of course, was a strike which spread beyond the control of the organisers owing to intimidation by hooligans who took advantage of the situation. I am happy to say that the situation in Maseru remains normal.