§ 46. Mr. Shepherdasked the Prime Minister how many cases of sabotage, or suspected sabotage, directed against the Armed Services or Government Corporations have occurred during the past two years.
§ The Prime MinisterDuring the last two years there have been several cases of malicious damage to the property of the Armed Services and of Government Corporations, but there is no evidence that these were the work of an organisation directed or controlled by enemies of the State.
§ Mr. ShepherdIs the right hon. Gentleman telling the House that he believes that these actions have been entirely unco-ordinated and that there is no organisation working to these ends?
§ The Prime MinisterWhat I said was that there was no evidence to show that there was any co-ordination.
§ Mr. S. SilvermanCan my right hon. Friend say whether, included in these figures, there are cases covered by the normal interpretation of the word "sabotage," which means any malicious damage committed for any cause, private personal grievance or anything of that kind; and whether the figures have been analysed and show, in any cases, any political motive at all?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not quite see how that bears on my reply. The word "sabotage" is used in the Question, and I have used the words "malicious damage." There were several cases of malicious damage, but I do not think that I could take it any further than that.
§ Mr. S. SilvermanMy right hon. Friend will have noted the form of the supplementary question from the other side, which appeared to imply that malicious damage must always be occasioned by political reasons and political motives. I am asking my right hon. Friend whether the cases to which he was referring are all cases of personal grievances and not of political motives of any kind?
§ The Prime MinisterMy reply was that there is no evidence to show that these are part of any connected campaign of sabotage. There are, in some cases, obviously, individual grievances, but one cannot say quite definitely. There may have been some political motive or not. I am merely saying that the evidence does not prove conclusively that there is not.
§ Commander MaitlandCan the right hon. Gentleman say in how many cases there have been prosecutions?
§ The Prime MinisterNot without notice.