§ 3.5 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any information about an incident reported in the Press, when, on January 21, the police were reported to have drawn their batons and charged a party of Aberdeen students.]
THE MINISTER OF STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (THE EARL OF HOME)My Lords, the information in my possession indicates that the course of events on January 21 was as follows: At about 12.30 p.m. the Rector was carried, shoulder high, by students from the entrance to Marischal College towards the Kirkgate Bar. Before the procession, which was proceeding at more than walking pace, reached the Bar the police endeavoured to halt it and an inspector was knocked down. At this point the Rector was escorted by the President of the Students' Representative Council and another student into the Students' Union. Meanwhile the police had taken their station before the door of the Kirkgate Bar and refused to let any more people into it. There then began a general mêlée, the students endeavouring to force their way into the Bar and being resisted by the police. Lumps of snow, et cetera, were thrown at the police and an order to draw batons was given.
After a short stay in the Students' Union the Rector, still accompanied by the President of the Students' Representative Council and the other students, left the Union and walked to the Bar, which they entered. This was followed by renewed attempts by students to enter the Bar. After a short stay in the Bar the Rector left without further obstruction. 972 The police then began to clear the street and a general mêlée arose.
As a result of these disorders, five arrests were made. The matter is now under consideration by the criminal authorities, and consequently it would not be proper for me at this stage to make any further comment.
LORD SALTOUNMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Earl for his Answer. I should like to ask whether he does not think it most regrettable that these old ceremonies, which have taken place innocently for a very long time, should degenerate into this kind of row, and whether it is not possible to consider that a baton represents a rather strong riposte to a snowball.
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, I think most of your Lordships have been through this kind of jollification in the past and emerged unharmed. I agree that the incident was regrettable, and I hope that these mutual recriminations will be unnecessary and that relations between the parties concerned will not in future suffer.