§ 30. Mr. Canavanasked the Lord Advocate whether, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for West Stirling-shire on 17th May, he is now able to make a statement about his investigation into the South African Immigration Organisation (Pty) Ltd., Glasgow.
§ The Lord AdvocateThe South African Immigration Organisation (Pty) Ltd. has intimated to the Department of Employment that it ceased to carry on business in the United Kingdom on 31st May 1978.
§ Mr. CanavanIs it not a bit of a coincidence that this illegal racialist organisation should suddenly do a moonlight flit after I raised on the Floor of the House of Commons the possibility of prosecution? If at some future date sufficient evidence crops up, will my right hon. and learned Friend prosecute the organisation for breaking the law with the same efficiency as the South African authorities would prosecute it if it broke the law in its own rotten country?
§ The Lord AdvocateIt would be wrong for me to comment on the earlier part of my hon. Friend's remarks. However, I can tell him that the Department of Employment had not made available to me facts upon which a prosecution could be brought before this organisation intimated its cessation of business. If facts are presented to me showing that an offence has been committed, I shall examine them with a view to prosecution.
§ Mr. Teddy TaylorWe in the House know that we should not take seriously the hon. Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan), but does not the right hon. and learned Gentleman think that it would be right to say that on the basis of information available to him no prosecution was in fact taken?
§ The Lord AdvocateIt is certainly the case that no prosecution was taken in this case.