§ Q4. Mr. Whiteheadasked the Prime Minister if he remains satisfied with the security arrangements for Her Majesty's Ministers.
§ Rear-Admiral Morgan-GilesOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Before the Prime Minister answers this Question, will he inform the House whether it refers to the safety or to the reliability of Her Majesty's Ministers?
§ The Prime MinisterI am surprised that the hon. and gallant Member makes that point in view of the problems of the past years. I interpreted the Question in the way it was put to me, and the answer is: Yes, Sir, all appropriate arrangements continue to be made.
§ Mr. WhiteheadIs my right hon. Friend aware that that is a most satisfactory answer and that the Question was put down on the day of the bomb outrage a fortnight ago? Is he aware that the House should not yield to some hysterical suggestions that we should have much tighter security arrangements? The safest place for Her Majesty's Ministers and for all hon. Members is in a free Parliament open to the public. The only danger which could befall Ministers short of being in a coalition with the parties on the Opposition benches, is to be in a Parliament or Whitehall which was turned into an armed camp.
§ The Prime MinisterWe have always found the House of Commons a safe place for democratic debate. We had some gas bombs on one occasion, but in the wider sense I agree with my hon. Friend. [Interruption.] It did not happen under the present Government, not yet anyway. The security arrangements for Ministers are best left to those responsible for them and are better not discussed in detail. We have largely followed the improvements introduced by the last Government which were wise and which were certainly not based on panic or on preventing Ministers from doing their democratic duty both within and outside this House. Access to this House is a matter being considered by the Select Committee on Services.
§ Mr. FauldsOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it in order for a right hon. Member to call into question the loyalty of Members on the Labour benches who have all taken the oath of loyalty to Her Majesty the Queen?
§ Mr. SpeakerI do not think I detect anything for the Chair in what has happened today.
§ Mr. FauldsDid you not hear what he said?
§ Mr. PeytonNone of us would wish any harm to befall Her Majesty's present Ministers, but will the Prime Minister, arising out of his earlier answer, reflect upon the fact that very few of us are yet satisfied that appropriate arrangements have been made to defend the country from Her Majesty's present Ministers?
§ The Prime MinisterI greatly welcome the spirit in which that question was put and the great solicitude the right hon. Gentleman has shown. I can assure him that none of Her Majesty's Ministers at this time will, like himself, who was a Minister a few months ago, find themselves on the back or front Opposition benches
§ Mr. Jeffrey ArcherWait and see.
§ Mr. McNamaraReferring back to the answers to the last two questions, will my right hon. Friend confirm that it is Government policy to assert power sharing, the Irish dimension and adequate policing of the no-go areas as a prerequisite of any solution to the Northern Ireland problem?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that my hon. Friend's question relates principally to the security of the team of Northern Ireland Ministers, whose position, like that of those in the previous Government, the whole House understands and sympathises with. My hon. Friend raises a rather wider issue. As he knows, my right hon. Friend is conducting talks and hopes to make a statement shortly.
§ Mr. RostWill the Prime Minister confirm that there is no truth in the rumour that he is relaxing the security surrounding the Secretary of State for Industry, in the hope that someone might be tempted to kidnap him?