HL Deb 15 May 1981 vol 420 cc689-90

11.18 a.m.

Lord Harris of Greenwich

My 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 aware that the students union executive of the Middlesex Polytechnic have decided to send £1,000 to the Irish Republican Socialist Party, and whether, in view of the fact that the money has been provided by taxpayers, they will make a statement.

The Minister of State, Department of Education and Science (Baroness Young)

My Lords, I understand that the decision was taken by an extremely small minority of the student body, that it has been condemned by the President of the National Union of Students and that the president-elect of the Middlesex Polytechnic student union has been granted an interim injunction by the High Court to stop the payment.

Lord Harris of Greenwich

My Lords, may I thank the Minister of State for that reply? Not making any comment on the aspects of this matter which are sub judice, may I ask her whether she would not agree that at a time when we have become used to gross irresponsibility, it is very difficult to imagine a more scandalous decision than was taken by this group of students? Is she further aware that, at a time when Ministers of this Government, the previous Government and the Government of the Irish Republic are trying to dissuade citizens of the United States from giving money to terrorist organisations in Northern Ireland, it is particularly disgraceful that this group of students have done precisely this?

Lord Elwyn-Jones

My Lords, if this matter is sub judice, are we in order in discussing it?

Baroness Young

My Lords, my understanding of the position is that we cannot discuss the injunction itself; but the principle of the student union financing, which is another matter, can be discussed.

The answer to the question of the noble Lord, Lord Harris, is of course that the Government find this a deplorable decision by the Middlesex Polytechnic students and they welcome the fact that it has already been condemned by responsible students. They further welcome the fact, as I understand it, that nine members of the present union executive who took the decision have not been re-elected. The new executive takes office next month and it was the president-elect who applied to the High Court for an injunction. I also understand that the union constitution prescribes that union funds can only be spent in furthering the welfare, social and sporting facilities of the students themselves.

Lord Elwyn-Jones

My Lords, if I may say so, these proceedings are taking a disturbing course. We have gone from the generality of the principle to the particulars of a case. I do not wish to express any view about that myself but, if this is right, I think it calls for an examination by the House of the application of the sub judice rule.

Lord Denham

My Lords, I hesitate to dispute with the noble and learned Lord on any legal matters. I have the relevant passage in the Companion to the Standing Orders in front of me but I do not think it would be right for me to weary the House with that now. Perhaps we could look at the provisions and if the noble and learned Lord would be prepared to discuss them, we might formulate some opinion for future occasions.

Lord Elwyn-Jones

My Lords, I am very happy that that should be done.