§ Mr. Allan Robertsasked the Attorney-General (1) if he will institute proceedings against the 22 signatories of a leaflet published and first distributed at Molesworth on 22 May, a copy of which has been sent to him, and urging members of the armed forces to disobey certain orders relating to nuclear weapons, for incitement to disaffection; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if, following Mr. Peter Tatchell's remarks on Channel 4's "Comment" programme on 28 May urging members of the armed forces to think twice before obeying nuclear orders, he will institute proceedings against him for incitement to disaffection; and if he will make a statement.
4W
§ The Attorney-GeneralAs regards the leaflet distributed on 22 May 1985, the views put forward in it are of course quite unfounded in law and illustrate the confused thinking of its authors. However, I am satisfied that those to whom it is addressed are prefectly capable of appreciating it at its true worth and will treat it with derision. I therefore see no need to dignify it by making it the subject of criminal proceedings.
Similar considerations apply to the remarks made by Mr. Tatchell on the Channel 4 programme.