§ 10. Mr. Whiteheadasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will order an investigation in the alleged involvement of Territorial Army units with uniformed neo-Fascists of the so-called "Column 88" during exercises in Epping Forest.
§ Mr. William RodgersI have no evidence at all—and have been unable to find any—about events of the kind that my hon. Friend describes. However, on an incident involving the Army Cadet Corps and Column 88 in the West Country, I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 29th April.
§ Mr. WhiteheadIs the Minister aware that that is not a wholly satisfactory answer? Will he give an assurance that, to the best of his knowledge, no present or former members of the British National Socialist movement, Spearhead, the League of St. George, or Column 88 hold commissions or other ranks in the Territorial Army or Army Cadet Forces? If not, is he prepared to order an investigation into a dossier that I shall be happy to send to him?
§ Mr. RodgersI can answer "Yes" to the assurance for which my hon. Friend asked. I shall be interested to see any 215 dossier that he may have. If there are things to be investigated, that will be done.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonIs the Minister saying that no such exercises have taken place in Epping Forest? There is considerable concern and resentment in my constituency, and beyond, at the information, news or rumours that the lovely forest has been misused for parades of political paranoia.
§ Mr. RodgersI am saying that there is no evidence available to us that there have been any of these peculiar goings-on in Epping Forest. What I know of Column 88 is that it is a small drinking club of neo-Nazi nut cases. It is very unfortunate that lurid Press comment has, amongst other things, seemed to be damaging to the Territorial Army. This is totally without justification.