§ 2.36 p.m.
THE LORD BISHOP OF SOUTHWARKMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are satisfied that the actions of Dr. Alfred Laurence, of Purley, Surrey, have in no way offended against the Official Secrets Act of 1911.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM)My Lords, my right honourable friend the Home Secretary has explained that he hopes to be able to make a Statement about this case in the near future. I must ask the right reverend Prelate to await that Statement.
THE LORD BISHOP OF SOUTHWARKMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his reply. I have no wish to embarrass him, but as Dr. Laurence, who spent part of his life in a concentration camp at Dachau, is now a member of my diocese and under my pastoral care, I should like to ask the noble Lord whether, when the Government make their Statement, and if Dr. Laurence should be declared as one who has in no way offended against the Official Secrets Act, they will be prepared to compensate him for what has happened to him during this difficult period, in so far as it has affected his income.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, the supplementary question asked by the right reverend Prelate is a hypothetical one; but, even so, I cannot answer it now. I will do my best to answer it when the Statement has been made.
§ LORD BROOKE OF CUMNORMy Lords, are the Government aware that there is considerable public concern at what has happened and at the fact that no Statement has been made by the Government, over a very long period? Will the noble Lord do everything he can to expedite the Statement which he promises?
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, I have already done everything I can to expedite the Statement. As I said in my original Answer, a Statement will be made by my right honourable friend in the very near future.
§ LORD BYERSMy Lords, may I ask what the noble Lord means by the "very near future"? Will a Statement be made to Parliament before the Recess?
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, I cannot add to what I have said.
THE LORD BISHOP OF SOUTHWARKMy Lords, will the noble Lord answer this question? As I say, I have no desire to embarrass him, and I am sure that everyone appreciates the difficulty of the situation. But can the noble Lord tell us why, when Dr. Laurence's house was raided, there appeared to be the maximum publicity which did great damage to his status in Purley as a resident and also to his position as an earner? Were Her Majesty's Government aware of the publicity that was likely to attend this action; and, if so, why were not precautions taken to give Dr. Laurence the rights which we should expect for anybody who lives in this country?
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, I am most grateful to the right reverend Prelate for giving me advance notice of the kind of questions he is likely to ask when opportunity affords, but, as I made clear, I cannot answer them now.
§ LORD MOLSONMy Lords, will the Government bear in mind that on many occasions in the past, when there have been serious breaches of security, the Government and the police have been blamed for not taking action? Is it not inevitable that in some cases investigations may prove not to have been justified? Will the Government bear in mind that zeal in this matter is not to be deprecated and that an occasional accident reflects discredit neither upon the Government nor upon the police?
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Lord for his contribution. I am sure that the sentiments he has expressed are shared by the great majority of the people in this country.