§ 48. Mr. Gammansasked the Prime Minister if he is aware of the increasing concern at the number of acts of suspected 2300 sabotage in Service establishments for which no arrests have been made and the disappearance of prominent servants of the Crown likely to be in possession of confidential information; and what steps he proposes to take to improve the efficiency of the security services.
§ The Prime MinisterI do not accept all the implications of the first part of this Question, and I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Cheadle (Mr. Shepherd) on 3rd May.
As regards the second part of the Question, I have no statement to make; but those responsible are always on the lookout for means of raising still further the high standard of efficiency of these services.
§ Mr. GammansDoes the Prime Minister realise how long is this list? There is the explosion at Portsmouth, many cases of suspected sabotage in the Navy, the fire at Aldershot, the disappearance of scientists and so on. Does he not feel it is essential, both at home and abroad, to restore the prestige of our security services, and can he assure the House that that is being done?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, but at the same time the hon. Member will realise that once there is a case of suspected sabotage then every other incident occuring is always apt to be put down to sabotage. There is no proof of sabotage in a number of these cases, and in a number of other cases, where such have taken place, there is no reason to believe that they have come from any subversive activity. But they are being very fully investigated and every precaution is being taken, although it would be quite unwise and wrong for the hon. Member to suggest that there is widespread sabotage.
§ Earl WintertonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is profound disturbance in the country over this matter, which is really not a party matter, of course, because presumably hon. Members opposite and, indeed, Members of the Government must be as much concerned by certain recent events as many of us on this side of the House? Will he consider whether it would not be proper at some future date to publish a White Paper on the whole subject, because something should be done about this to reassure public opinion?
§ The Prime MinisterCertainly, but hitherto it has not been possible to bring clear evidence of sabotage in these cases. Where any case is proved, there will, of course, be the fullest publicity but one cannot do it where it is merely a matter of suspicion. I have myself seen suggestions of sabotage made when it was obviously quite out of the question.
§ Mr. FootIs it not a fact that in the case of two or three recent alleged examples of sabotage in the Royal Dockyards, where the Admiralty originally suspected sabotage and spoke of it as sabotage, it has since been proved not to have been sabotage at all; and is it not a fact that there is practically no instance, certainly of any widespread sabotage having occurred in the Royal Dockyards?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that is so.
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksIs it not a fact that no incident is designated as a case of suspected sabotage until it is found that there is no other explanation available for it?