§ 27. Sir William van Straubenzeeasked the Attorney-General what recent representations he has received, following the issuing by him of guidance to higher education institutions about the limitations on the use of their student union's funds in the furtherance of political purposes, that the guidance is not being complied with; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-General (Sir Michael Havers)I have received a number of representations that expenditure has been incurred by student unions in breach of trust. These cases are being investigated. If the allegations are substantiated I shall consider whether to take legal proceedings against those responsible. I should add that if, as a result of such proceedings, the court finds that a breach of trust has occurred, it could hold those responsible for authorising the expenditure personally liable to repay the money and could order them to pay the costs of the proceedings.
§ Sir William van StraubenzeeI am obliged to my right hon. and learned Friend. Am I correct in understanding also that, assuming that payments are so made from a student union fund which is a charity, additionally it might be that those receiving money would be liable to repay it, knowing that it comes from a charitable source? Does my right hon. and learned Friend understand that he will have trenchant support for seeking to ensure that money given willingly by the ratepayer and taxpayer for educational purposes is not used to finance violence of the kind that we have seen this morning?
§ The Attorney-GeneralMy right hon. Friend is right. Where breaches of trust are established it is open to me to take whatever action I consider appropriate to recover the money improperly applied. This may include tracing the money in the hands of any person who has wrongfully received it.
§ Mr. DobsonIs the Attorney-General seriously suggesting that this is the highest priority for him and his staff? Would he not do better, for instance, attempting to track down the witness in the murder case at King's Cross who disappeared this time last year and has never been tracked down by his office——
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I do not think that that has anything to do with the question.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThere are no police offices involved in any of these investigations. They are entirely the responsibility of the Treasury Solicitor. This subject got first priority today because it was the first question.
§ Mr. LawrenceSince what my right hon. and learned Friend said has been the law for a long time, and no doubt the care with which that law is enforced has also been observed for a long period of time, is it not somewhat remarkable that money should still be being voted by student unions to striking miners who are behaving unlawfully, and to such organisations as the English Collective of Prostitutes? Is it not clear that my right hon. and learned Friend is not doing enough to bring home to the leaders of student unions precisely what the state of their indebtedness will be if they carry on behaving as unlawfully as this?
§ The Attorney-GeneralIt is perfectly right that I am not likely to know about breaches unless they are brought to my attention. Usually a breach is brought to my attention by a student. The guidelines that I published some time ago have been widely circulated. There is little more that I can do save say to my hon. and learned Friend that when these matters are reported to me, the Treasury Solicitor makes careful inquiry. A number of cases have received a lot of publicity in the past few weeks, and all are in the process of investigation.