§ 2.54 p.m.
Lord CAMPBELL of CROYMy 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 will make a Statement about the bomb attack against a British Petroleum pipeline installation in Perth shire on Tuesday 23rd September.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (Lord Kirkhill)My Lords, at 2.50 a.m. on Tuesday 23rd September a bomb exploded near Kinfauns, Perth, which severely damaged a valve control centre connected with the oil pipeline running from Cruden Bay to Grange mouth. Debris from the blast was blown on to a main road which is about 50 ft. away. Fortunately, no one was injured nor was there any damage done to the pipeline itself.
Responsibility for the attack was claimed by an organisation which calls itself the "Tartan Army" which also claimed responsibility for a similar attack on a valve installation at Crook of Devon, Perthshire, on 12th September. Nothing is known of this organisation or its purpose in making these attacks which are being investigated by the police.
Lord CAMPBELL of CROYMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his reply in which he gave information on this recent incident. Will he confirm that this is the pipeline system to be opened by Her Majesty the Queen in a few weeks' time? Is he aware that the body who telephoned to claim responsibility for this incident stated that it was to help the SNP, the Scottish Nationalists? Although the SNP have stated that there is no direct connection, does the noble Lord agree that the SNP's objective of breaking up Britain—with Scotland and Wales as separate countries, and with the hysterical manner in which this is often purveyed—is unfortunately likely to stimulate violence of this kind by some misguided people?
§ Lord KIRKHILLMy Lords, I confirm that indeed this is the pipeline which Her Majesty the Queen will open at Dyce on 3rd November. As to the more general remarks of the noble Lord, Lord Campbell of Croy, regarding the SNP, I could of course agree with him that it is unlikely that the Tartan Army has support from members of the Conservative and Unionist Association, or from adherents of the Labour Party in Scotland.
§ Lord BYERSMy Lords, in the interests of justice, is it not a fact that last night the SNP made an impassioned plea to the Tartan Army to stop this nonsense because it is doing nobody any good?
§ Lord KIRKHILLMy Lords, I can only repeat that the well-known major political Parties in Scotland—that is, the Conservative and Unionist Association, the Liberal Party, and the Labour Party—are in no way involved.
§ Lord CLIFFORD of CHUDLEIGHMy Lords, would the noble Lord confirm that the first attack is not referring either to the noble Lord, Lord Fulton, or to myself?
§ Lord KIRKHILLMy Lords, I would make no reply to that.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, I have no sympathy with the SNP, but surely the Minister should accept the statement that was made last night by that Party altogether repudiating this violence, and not limit his exceptions to the three other Parties.
§ Lord KIRKHILLMy Lords, I have certainly taken note of that, and I am aware of the Chairman's statement.
Lord CAMPBELL of CROYMy Lords, will the noble Lord agree that, while the SNP have, as I indicated, said that there is no direct connection, there is the danger that the policies, and the way they are being presented, could cause misguided people to indulge in violence of this kind? Will the Government diligently pursue the investigations to find the culprits?
§ Lord KIRKHILLMy Lords, in general terms within the area of nationalist influence in Scotland at the present moment a lunatic fringe undoubtedly exists, and it now appears that it is beginning to perpetrate outrages.