HC Deb 06 December 1961 vol 650 cc1391-4
Mrs. Hart

Mr. Speaker, I beg to ask to move the adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the application by the Metropolitan Police for the issue of warrants under the Official Secrets Act for the searching during this morning of the offices of the Committee of 100 and of the homes of several of its members, involving the prevention of an individual whose home was being searched from telephoning his solicitor. I submit to you, Mr. Speaker, that this matter is definite. The facts that I have which were given to me at 1.30 p.m. today by a solicitor who is not a member of the Committee of 100—neither myself nor, I believe, any of my hon. Friends are members, because we disapprove of the particular form of activities in which its members engage—are that a raid took place by plainclothes policemen on the offices of the Committee of 100 at 13, Goodwin Street, N.4, on warrants issued by the magistrates under the belief, apparently, that there might be very serious offences under the Official Secrets Act involving incitement and very serious charges if the Official Secrets Act were to be invoked.

In addition, a search was made at the home of Mr. Michael Randle and Mr. Hugh Brock, the editor of Peace News, 79, Lordship Park, N.16, at the home of Mr. Hatton, 181, Algernon Road, S.E.13, and at the home of Mr. Ian Dixon and Mr. Kelly Chandler, 13, Goodwin Street, N.4. Their homes is the Lanercost Community, which is a pacifist community. From there, files, personal address books and personal diaries were taken. During the search of Mr. Dixon's bedroom by Detective Inspector H. G. Laurenson, Mr. Dixon asked permission—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Lady must help me. I am not allowed to let her make a speech about all these things. She can merely indicate why her application is in order.

Mrs. Hart

I seek only to establish the facts which, I believe, are not known to the House. May I, in one sentence, conclude what I have to say about the facts. Mr. Dixon was refused permission by the detective inspector to use the telephone to make contact with his solicitor.

I suggest that this is a matter of Government responsibility in that it involves the Metropolitan Police, and presumably the Home Secretary gave instructions for the warrants to be applied for under the Official Secrets Act. If he did not—and I see that he is indicating that he did not—he presumably will have responsibility for whatever charges may be brought.

The matter is urgent because, if these charges are brought, or if any charges are brought, I assume that the matter will be sub judice and that this House will not be in a position to discuss it.

Finally, I suggest that what this House needs to concern itself with is the very grave danger to civil liberties which may arise in view of the kind of sentences which could result if the Official Secrets Act were involved in any charges which may be brought against members of the Committee of 100.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Lady asks leave to move the adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the application by the Metropolitan Police for the issue of warrants under the Official Secrets Act for the searching during this morning of the offices of the Committee of 100 and of the homes of several of its members, involving the prevention of an individual whose home was being searched from telephoning his solicitor. The hon. Lady will understand that this is a matter that the House would want to discuss at some other time. I cannot accept her application under the Standing Order because it really comes into that class of matters which appear at page 372 of Erskine May and which are generally classified under matters which do not involve more than the ordinary administration of the law. I cannot accept the motion.

Mr. Shinwell

On a point of order. May I inquire, Mr. Speaker, whether we are entitled to ask the Home Secretary whether he is aware of what has happened?

Sir H. Legge-Bourke

On a point of order. In the hope of being third time lucky Mr. Speaker, may I, also, seek to move the adjournment of the House—

Mr. Speaker

I should first hear the right hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell), who had a point of order as to the other matter to raise.

Mr. Shinwell

I am a little doubtful whether it is a legitimate point of order, Mr. Speaker, but I put it to you because it appears to me that the Home Secretary has responsibility for the Metropolitan Police. All I want to know is whether we are entitled to ask him whether he is aware of what is happening.

Mr. Speaker

I have to tell the right hon. Gentleman, "No".

Mr. Brockway

May I make a submission to you, Mr. Speaker, with reference to the request by my hon. Friend the Member for Lanark (Mrs. Hart)? You have said that the House would probably like to discuss this matter at a suitable opportunity. As soon as the charges are brought in a court of law, the matter will be sub judice and the House, therefore, will not be in a position to discuss the matter. In those circumstances—

Mr. Speaker

I had the point, because the hon. Lady made it. It does not, however, affect my powers under the Standing Order, because it is not a matter of the kind which I can include within the Standing Order.

Mr. Warbey

Further to that point of order. I understand, Mr. Speaker, that the application by my hon. Friend the Member for Lanark (Mrs. Hart) fails because you have ruled that this is a matter concerning the ordinary administration of the law. I should have thought that what my hon. Friend was saying was that this was a matter concerning not the ordinary administration of the law, but the extraordinary administration of it, and that it was its extraordinary character that justified a debate in the House.

Mr. Speaker

That does not assist me.