HC Deb 05 April 1951 vol 486 cc370-1
36. Mr. Rankin

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the expenses of the recent investigations in Scotland of Chief Inspector McGrath and Detective Sergeant John McDougall were financed by the Criminal Investigation Department and to what extent by his Department.

Mr. Ede

The expenses in question are being met from the Metropolitan Police Fund.

Mr. Rankin

Do I take it, then, that no public expenditure is involved so far as my right hon. Friend's Department is concerned? Can my right hon. Friend tell us what success has attended the efforts of these two officers, if any report is being issued and if any further action is proposed? Just for the sake of the record, can he tell us what they were looking for in Scotland? Was it an English or a Scottish relic?

Mr. Ede

In reply to the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, the Metropolitan Police Fund is a public fund and these expenses are charged against it. These two officers have been in Scotland. They have made certain investigations, and a report as a result of their investigations has been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions and is under consideration.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Was one of the missions of Chief Inspector McGrath to discover why one of the prayers of the Archbishop of Canterbury about the Stone of Destiny had not been answered?

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the overwhelming majority of decent-minded Scottish people think that this is an outrage of the first magnitude and will willingly pay what is necessary to get the culprits brought to heel?

Mr. Ede

I hope that the hon. and gallant Member did not mean that these two officers were an outrage. They are concerned to see that the law of the country is observed.

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to accept my assurance that I was referring to the dastardly outrage which took place at Westminster Abbey—a sacred place?