HC Deb 08 December 1986 vol 107 cc19-20
30. Mr. Willie W. Hamilton

asked the Lord Privy Seal what steps he has taken to ensure that there are no personnel employed whole-time or part-time by hon. Members who are associated with terrorist organisations.

Mr. Biffen

It is not the practice to give detailed information about security matters.

Mr. Hamilton

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of his hon. Friends, the hon. Member for Luton, North (Mr. Carlisle), employed as a research assistant in the House a Mr. Hoile, the former vice-chairman of the Federation of Conservative Students, who has reportedly been on armed patrol with the American-financed terrorists in Nicaragua? What steps does the right hon. Gentleman intend to take to ensure that there is no repetition of such disreputable practice?

Mr. Biffen

The hon. Gentleman makes a number of comments that are quite unsubstantiated. They amount to mere innuendo. The sooner that the House moves away from argument by innuendo to argument by evidence, the better it will be for us all.