HL Deb 26 November 1980 vol 415 cc92-3

2.40 p.m.

Lord Brockway

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their attention has been drawn to the sale at a meeting of the League of St. George in Kensington of an American field manual, classified as prohibited for sale to the public by the Pentagon, giving instructions on the making of bombs, and, if so, what action they propose to take.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Belstead)

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for drawing attention to this but it is for the police, in consultation as necessary with the Director of Public Prosecutions, to decide whether any action should be taken over any particular publication.

Lord Brockway

My Lords, is the Minister aware that I raised this question three years ago and that the practice is still being pursued? Is he aware that I have in my hand the document published by the Pentagon in Washington? It gives instructions on how to prepare bombs in your own home. There is even an instruction as to how to prepare envelope bombs, with illustrations. Should not the Government seize these documents, prohibit any organisation from sending them and seek at customs to stop the importation of documents which are prohibited for the public by the American army?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, we are certainly not complacent about the activities of any extremist groups, and the police have the position under close review. But I repeat that it is for the police, in consultation as necessary with the Director of Public Prosecutions, to decide whether action should be taken over any particular publication.

Baroness Wootton of Abinger

My Lords, in that case, how is it so easy for my noble friend to hold copies in his hand?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, because there is no power to ban publications, or to seize imported books, unless they are indecent or obscene.

Baroness Wootton of Abinger

My Lords, surely that prohibition ought to be extended, and then my noble friend, and others of evil intent, would no longer be able to obtain these documents?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, this will be a matter for Parliament to decide.

The Marquess of Headfort

My Lords, would not the noble Lord agree that bombs are indecent, if not obscene, also?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, whether to bring a charge would be a matter for those who are responsible for prosecutions to decide and then the decision would be for the court.

Lord Brockway

My Lords, has the Minister seen a copy of this document published by the army headquarters in Washington, which is prohibited for sale outside the army ranks, giving details of how to construct bombs of all kinds in your own home? Should not Her Majesty's Government be seeking some immediate means of preventing the distribution of this dangerous document among the British public?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, if the document is called Booby Traps, the answer is yes.

Lord Elwyn-Jones

My Lords, will the Minister give an undertaking to inform his right honourable friend the Home Secretary about these exchanges? The attitude that has been shown on the Benches opposite about this has been somewhat complacent. Is it not an outrage that an organisation should be able to distribute communications on how to make letter bombs? If the law is inadequate to deal with that, we ought to deal with the situation forthwith.

Lord Belstead

My Lords, certainly I will draw my right honourable friend's attention to the exchanges on this Question. I am sure the noble and learned Lord, who is always very fair in this House, would wish me to remind him that I was at pains to say the precise opposite of what he just said; I was at pains to point out that we are not complacent in this matter, that the police have matters of this kind under very close review, and that this is something for the police to take action on if they think it is right to do so.

Lord Taylor of Blackburn

My Lords, may we have an undertaking that the Minister will report back to us about what is going on?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, I am always at the service of the House for any Questions which may be asked of me.

Lord Hankey

My Lords, before we leave this matter, may I ask the noble Lord to enlighten us as to what is the League of St. George? Is it Left wing or Right wing, and why is it interested in making bombs?

Lord Belstead

my Lords, I think that both the noble Lord, Lord Brockway, and I would agree that it is just plain subversive.

Lord Elwyn-Jones

A good adjective, my Lords.