§ 18. Mr. Liptonasked the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances Ronald Biggs, wanted by the police for the Great Train Robbery, was allowed on board HMS "Danae" at Rio de Janeiro.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Defence for The Royal Navy (Mr. A. E. P. Duffy)As I stated in the reply I gave 1023 to my hon. Friend the Member for Hems-worth (Mr. Woodall) on 22nd April, ships' companies are encouraged to meet the local community but are expected to show discretion in offering hospitality. I understand that some junior ratings from HMS "Danae" received an invitation to dinner from Mr. Biggs and responded by inviting him on board while they stowed their shopping. When the officers in charge had identified the ratings' guest as Mr. Biggs, he was asked to leave the ship. Mr. Biggs will not be allowed back on board Her Majesty's ships.
§ Mr. LiptonWhy did the Ministry resort to the disreputable ruse of trying to forestall an awkward Oral Question by planting a stooge Question and Written Reply last Friday, which did not appear in Hansard until Saturday? That kind of trick does not go down very well with me, anyhow. May I draw my hon. Friend's attention to the stooge Question on Friday, in reply to which he said:
Mr. Biggs will not be allowed back on board any of Her Majesty's ships when some ships of the group return to Rio de Janeiro on 23rd April."—[Official Report, 22nd April 1977; Vol. 930, c. 168.]Is the limitation on Mr. Biggs limited only to the ships which are going back to Rio de Janeira on 23rd April? Has an instruction been given to all naval vessels that whenever they go to Rio de Janeiro they must not have Mr. Biggs on board?
§ Mr. DuffyOn the second point, I said in my formal reply:
Mr. Biggs will not be allowed back on board Her Majesty's ships.On the first point, my hon. Friend the Member for Hemsworth was quicker off the mark last week than my hon. Friend the Member for Lambeth, Central (Mr. Lipton).
§ Rear-Admiral Morgan-GilesWhile it is frequently enjoyable to meet the local inhabitants—sailors from Her Majesty's ships do a great job in that respect—is it not a fact that Her Majesty's ship is British territory, and should not Mr. Biggs have been clapped in irons?
§ Mr. DuffyThere was no power to arrest Mr. Biggs on board Her Majesty's ship—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why not?"]—and no such arrest of Mr. Biggs was authorised.