§ 33. Mr. Cordleasked the Attorney-General on whose instructions the Official Solicitor intervened in the case of the three dockers held to be in contempt of the National Industrial Relations Court.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Official Solicitor acted on his own initiative in the circumstances set out in the statement made by the Master of the Rolls on Monday, 19th June.
§ Mr. CordleIs the Attorney-General aware that Lord Denning, Master of the Rolls, made a statement on 19th June to 1174 the effect that the Secretary of the NIRC had asked the Official Solicitor to appear on behalf of three dockers, yet theDaily Express of 17th June reported the Official Solicitor as saying
It was all my own idea.In that case, perhaps my right hon. and learned Friend will tell us who was right. If the Official Solicitor was right, perhaps the Attorney-General can define the Official Solicitor's function, because the dockers themselves did not ask the Official Solicitor to intervene on their behalf.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI can only refer my hon. Friend to the statement which was formally made by the Master of the Rolls on 19th June from the court which stated and recited how it came about that the court invited the Official Solicitor to intervene in the matter. The Official Solicitor's duties are to intervene when asked to do so by the court or in pursuance of a general direction which obliges him to review all cases of committal for contempt and to take such steps as seem to him to be proper.
§ Mr. OrmeIs the Attorney-General aware that the intervention of the Official Solicitor has caused great consternation in this country, and tends to bring the law into disrepute, because many people were unaware even of the existence of that gentleman? Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman not also aware that the Official Solicitor's evasive answers following his intervention give many people the impression that he was pressurised to intervene on behalf of the dockers; and that we are entitled to know who brought the pressure to bear on the gentleman?
§ The Attorney-GeneralAs I said, the Master of the Rolls—namely, the court—asked for the intervention of the Official Solicitor; he and he alone was so responsible, and it was with his knowledge and with his knowledge alone that the request was made. In matters of contempt, the Official Solicitor always examines the papers and on suitable occasions intervenes. On this occasion he intervened solely at the request of the court itself.
§ 34. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Attorney-General whether he will publish in the Official Report a list of the 1175 official discussions held by the Official Solicitor, in the week commencing Monday 12th June, 1972; and with whom such discussions were held.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo, Sir. During the week in question the Official Solicitor held no discussions with any Government Department or agency.
§ Mr. LewisIs the Attorney-General aware that I happened to be waiting with the dockers at Chobham Farm in my constituency for the tipstaff to arrive and that when he failed to arrive the dockers said, "The whole of the law is crooked"? To prove that they are wrong, can we be assured that today, when there is a similar incident happening again, the Official Solicitor is to intervene?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. That supplementary question does not arise from the Question.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI was not aware where the hon. Gentleman was at that time. I am only always aware that he is here when it is my turn to answer Questions.
§ Mr. HefferWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that whether or not there were discussions on the part of the Government—and obviously there were discussions on the part of the Government—the intervention of the Official Solicitor saved the country from a very severe dock strike brought about by the ridiculous application of the Industrial Relations Act? Incidentally, most people had not even heard of the Official Solicitor until that Monday. Is it not clear that this gentleman will have a lot more work in the near future in order again to avoid a national dock strike unless the Government take into account the views of the TUC, and suspend the Industrial Relations Act pending its abolition?
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe hon. Gentleman is expressing his own point of view which he has expressed in debate and will doubtless express again. I am not responsible for the court, or for the actions of the Official Solicitor. The Official Solicitor, I repeat, acted on the instructions and at the request of the court, and of the court alone.