HC Deb 09 November 1972 vol 845 cc1174-5
12. Mr. Rost

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many alien scientologists have been refused entry to the United Kingdom as visitors during the past three years; and on what grounds permits are refused.

Mr. Lane

The answer to the first part of the Question is "None, Sir." But 36 foreign nationals have been refused leave to land during the past three years because they were coming to study or work at scientology establishments.

Mr. Rost

While not wishing to comment on the merits or otherwise of scientology, may I ask my hon. Friend to confirm that the practice of scientology in this country is not illegal? Will he, therefore, give an assurance that arbitrary sanctions will not be applied to foreign visitors to this country simply because they happen to be scientologists?

Mr. Lane

There is no question of arbitrary sanctions being applied. I do not want to go further into the merits of this question because, as my hon. Friend will know, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services is at present engaged in consultations about our whole future policy towards scientology, and I would rather leave it there for today.

Mr. J. T. Price

In case the Home Office is in any danger of being conned by this kind of question, may I remind the hon. Gentleman that long before he occupied his present office his Department had plenty of evidence of the practices of this cult, and that all kinds of sinister activities are on record, because I have given some of the information to a previous Home Secretary? Will the hon. Gentleman resist all temptation to reverse this policy—one of the few policies of the present Government which have my full support—of keeping these people out of the country?

Mr. Lane

In the Home Office we try never to be conned. On that point, I am well aware of what has been said in this House and elsewhere about the scientology cult, and I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we shall consider this matter very carefully indeed before departing in any way from our present policy.

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