HC Deb 09 March 1961 vol 636 cc663-4
17. Mr. W. Griffiths

asked the Minister of Education if he will request the principals of colleges of advanced technology to inform students where police or other official inquiries are made about those students.

Sir D. Eccles

No, Sir.

Mr. Griffiths

Is the Minister aware that already very many principals object to answering inquiries about the political views of their students? Further, is he aware that in a recent case at the Chelsea College of Advanced Technology a special branch officer made inquiries about a young lady student there who was not involved in work where security checks were applied and who was not seeking to be involved in such work? Is it not monstrous that she should learn purely by chance about this, and if inquiries are made, at least should not students be told?

Mr. Speaker

I am reluctant to interrupt the hon. Member and I do not wish to do him an injustice. I invite correction, but I think that there is another Question from him about this on the Order Paper relating to the specific case. Is that not so?

Mr. Griffiths

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Speaker

I think that we had better wait until the specific case is reached.

Mr. Griffiths

With respect, Mr. Speaker, I am asking that the Minister should give general advice to principals of colleges, and I am simply illustrating the principle by reference to a specific case. I could have given many other examples.

Mr. Speaker

I think that the right course is to have a general answer and keep off the specific case.

Mr. Wiley

Keeping off the specific case, will the Minister make it quite clear that we regard this as generally undesirable, we do not like it, it is un-British and we want to avoid this sort of approach as far as possible?

Sir D. Eccles

There may be many reasons why the police want to make inquiries about persons, whether they are in a college or not. When they are in college, I think it is best to leave it to the principal to decide whether or not to tell the pupil.