§ Lord ChalfontMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is true that political meetings have taken place at the Libyan School in Chelsea; and whether they are still of the opinion that this establishment poses no threat to national security.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Glenarthur)My Lords, I understand that political meetings have been held at the Jamahiriya School, Chelsea. I have no information to suggest that anything sinister has occurred, but if there were any grounds for thinking that this establishment posed a threat to national security, the police would take appropriate action.
§ Lord ChalfontMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. If political meetings of any kind have taken place at this establishment—and there is, as the Minister has said, substantial evidence that they have—is this not in itself a matter for grave concern? The establishment concerned is meant to be a school. In the light of the fact that there is substantial evidence of the infiltration of terrorist groups from Libya into this country in recent months, does the Minister not agree that the activities of this school require far more attention and supervision than they appear to be receiving at the moment?
§ Lord GlenarthurMy Lords, the school, as I understand it, is a bona fide educational establishment, and so long as the activities of all those who use 2 the school remain within the law there are no grounds on which the police may act. At present the police have no grounds for believing that there is anything untoward about the school or its activities.
§ Lord Cledwyn of PenrhosMy Lords, will the Minister deal with the point raised by the noble Lord, Lord Chalfont, concerning the infiltration of terrorist groups from Libya into this country over the past few months? Can the Minister confirm that that is true? If so, what are the Government doing about it?
§ Lord GlenarthurMy Lords, there is no evidence to suggest that people from Libya who should not be in this country are here.