§ 11. Sir William van Straubenzeeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many personnel under his command took part in the operation at Stansted airport on 27–28 February.
§ Mr. WhitelawFive officials from my Department took part in the operation at Stansted airport.
§ Sir William van StraubenzeeWas not the quality of the overall command of this successful operation very important? Does my right hon. Friend understand that some of those behind him, I suspect a number, are becoming incresingly resentful—particularly those of us who have served under him, sometimes in difficult situations—at suggestions that in the conduct of this operation, or in the general fight against crime, he is other than a man of great firmness and determination?
§ Mr. WhitelawI am grateful to my hon. Friend. Perhaps I should say to those who are quite entitled to criticise me that I have always believed that in public life policies are more important than personalities.
§ Sir John Biggs-DavisonI congratulate my right hon. Friend on his part in this successful operation. Does he 472 agree that it was a national operation at the expense of a county that has fared badly in terms of rate support? Would Her Majesty's Government give some more consideration to the possibility of helping local authorities who are fortuitously subjected to the cost?
§ Mr. WhitelawI appreciate what my hon. Friend says. I gave answers earlier to the effect that I hoped that, by our resolute response to these incidents, we should not have more. If we do, I shall consider what my hon. Friend said.