§ 2.47 p.m.
§ Lord GLADWYNMy 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 the proceedings at the Polytechnic of North London, as recorded 2 in the recently published book Rape of Reason, have been brought to the notice of the Director of Public Prosecutions; and, if not, why not.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, HOME OFFICE (Lord Harris of Greenwich)My Lords, the Attorney General has referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions an allegation of misuse of public funds by the Students' Union of the North London Polytechnic, and a police investigation is in progress. In this context, the investigating officer has been made aware of the publication of the book Rape of Reason.
§ Lord GLADWYNMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply, which is certainly satisfactory so far as it goes. But may I ask whether there are any general legal means of preventing the virtual takeover of our seats of learning by small groups of alleged Marxists employing what amount to tactics of organised terrorism and general thuggery?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHMy Lords, in the light of the investigation which is now proceeding, I do not think that it is appropriate to make any further comment.
§ Lord ELTONMy Lords, will the noble Lord accept that we on these Benches also share the view which has just been expressed, and will he agree that those who use force to silence the voice of reason are the enemies alike of democracy and this nation?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHMy Lords, I have taken note of what the noble Lord has said.
§ Viscount AMORYMy Lords, can the noble Lord say whether the newspaper reports, that this same kind of trouble is now also prevalent in the South Bank Polytechnic are true?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHMy Lords, I have seen the same Press reports, but that is a matter for my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.
§ Lord WYNNE-JONESMy Lords, will my noble friend agree that the number of institutions of higher education where there has been any takeover, or any threat of takeover, is a minute percentage of the total number of institutions?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHMy Lords, I think that is a rather wider point than the Question on the Order Paper.
§ Lord HAILSHAM of SAINT MARYLEBONEMy Lords, are there not two quite separate questions here? The first deals with the proper use of funds which are in the hands of the students' union, and obviously one can make no comment about that so long as it is under investigation. The other relates to allegations contained in this book of criminal damage, unlawful detention and general disorder, which seems to be quite separate from the question of funds. May I ask whether it is contemplated that these matters should also be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions and, if not, why not?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHMy Lords, I have endeavoured to point out that the police officer who is conducting this investigation has had this book drawn specifically to his attention.
§ Lord SLATERMy Lords, does my noble friend agree that at this stage we should wait until the investigation has taken place, before seeking to make further observations on the merits or demerits of the case?
§ Lord GORE-BOOTHMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that actions of this kind by small minorities, if they turn out to be true, can be infectious, and that it is important to look at this matter more generally?
§ Lord DRUMALBYNMy Lords, did the noble Lord say that the investigator is investigating matters other than the misuse of funds?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHNo, my Lords. I pointed out that a specific allegation of the misuse of public funds has been drawn to the attention of the investigating officer, and so has the book.
§ The Earl of ONSLOWMy Lords, is it not alleged in the book that students climbed on to the roof of the building, tore pieces away from the roof, put a loud hailer through it and shouted things down through the loud hailer? In The Times there was a report of what they shouted, but I would hesitate to repeat it in this House. Is this not something that the Director of Public Prosecutions should urgently look into?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHMy Lords, any specific allegation of a criminal character will be looked into. I appeal to anyone who has such information to draw it to the attention of the police.
§ Lord ANNANMy Lords, will the noble Lord agree that it would be wise if his right honourable friend the Secretary of State could have a word with the chairman of the Inner London Education Authority, who might represent to the chairman of the Court of Governors the need for firm action in this matter, and for not sweeping affairs under the carpet?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHMy Lords, I will draw the attention of my right honourable friend to what the noble Lord, Lord Annan, has said.