HC Deb 13 January 1971 vol 809 cc64-6
Mr. Callaghan

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the explosion at the home of the Secretary of State for Employment.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Reginald Maudling)

I have received a preliminary report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. It appears that shortly after 10 p.m. yesterday an explosion occurred outside my right hon. Friend's home, doing serious damage. The police were summoned. Shortly after their arrival a second device exploded. My right hon. Friend and the police officers were able to take cover and I am happy to tell the House that no one was injured in either explosion. But this came about only through great good fortune. The extent of the damage done to the house indicates the power and lethal character of the devices employed.

The police are making widespread inquiries, but clearly I cannot yet express any views about the precise origin of the explosions or the motives of those who planted the devices. Arrangements made for the protection of members of the Government are being urgently reviewed.

I am confident that every Member of the House would wish to join in unreserved condemnation of this crime. [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] I am also sure that I would be reflecting the feeling of the House as a whole in expressing our sympathy with my right hon. Friend and his family in this most unpleasant experience and our relief that they were physically unharmed.

Mr. Callaghan

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that statement. May I express, as he knows, the fact that in the House there is no division at all in this matter? We are as delighted as anyone else, not only that the Home Secretary's right hon. Friend escaped, but that Mrs. Carr and the family were unharmed—because, as all of us know, it is our wives who have to take the brunt of this sort of outrage, which, fortunately, is almost unique in this country.

May I also ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware—though this I am sure he already knows—that it is our profound hope that those who have committed this outrage will be brought to justice at the earliest possible moment; and that the whole of the country will know that there can be no success attending anyone who attempts to influence opinion in any way by means of this sort? That kind of approach is utterly discredited and will receive no support from anyone at all.

Mr. Maudling

I am very grateful indeed to the right hon. Gentleman for what he has said.

Mr. Thorpe

Is the Home Secretary aware that the whole House will wish to be associated with what he and the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Cardiff, South-East (Mr. Callaghan) have said? Indeed, I congratulate the Minister concerned and his family on the very calm and cool way in which they obviously faced this outrage. Surely the lesson to be learned by everyone is that the opportunity for persuasion lies not in the bomb but in the ballot box, and we await with confidence for the Home Secretary to look into these matters and very much hope that those responsible will be apprehended.

Mr. Maudling

I am very grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for his remarks. I can assure him and the House that every possible lesson will be learned from this occurrence and that every effort will be made to bring those responsible to book.

Sir H. Legge-Bourke

Is my right hon. Friend aware that everyone inside and outside the House who has a true devotion to the democratic system will be appalled by what has happened and will wish to congratulate my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment on the extraordinary dignity and calm which he exercised on this occasion? May I express the hope that every possible effort will be made by the Home Secretary and the police to find out who is responsible for this outrage and to expose them for the gross traitors that they are?

Mr. Maudling

I believe that the entire House shares the sentiments expressed by my hon. Friend.

Back to