§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether Her Majesty's Government will in future make it their practice never to regard an industrial dispute as either subversive or seeking to undermine the state; and if he will make a statement;
(2) whether Her Majesty's Government will in future make it their practice never to regard a campaign or pressure group that does not advocate or practice violence as either subversive or seeking to undermine the state; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrittanNo. There are various ways in which the safety or well-being of the State may be threatened and attempts made to undermine or overthrow parliamentary democracy, and particular cases must be judged in the light of all the relevant circumstances. The definition of subversive activities formulated by Lord Harris of Greenwich in 1975 (which is still in use) makes it clear that activity in connection with a political campaign or industrial dispute is to be regarded as subversive only if it threatens the safety or well-being of the state and is intended to undermine or overthrow parliamentary democracy.