§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Prime Minister whether the Government will seek to establish an all-party committee of privy councillors to scutinise all applications for surveillance where it is alleged that the persons or organisations whose right to privacy is to be secretly curtailed constitute a threat the Parliamentary democracy by seeking to undermine it by political, industrial or violent means.
§ The Prime MinisterNo. I do not believe that there is any reason to depart from the principle of ministerial accountability for national security matters. As far as investigations into subversive activities are concerned, I am satisfied that these are carried out with proper regard for the definition of such activities first given by Lord Harris of Greenwich
those which threaten the safety or well-being of the State and which are intended to undermine or overthrow Parliamentary democracy by political, industrial or violent means"—[Official Report, House of Lords, 26 February 1975; Vol. 357, c. 947.]
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Prime Minister what is the definition of a Communist sympathiser for the purposes of surveillance by the security services.
§ The Prime MinisterA Communist sympathiser is commonly understood to be a person who, whilst not himself a Communist, supports the aims and intentions of communism. Under the terms of its directive, the Security Service has a duty to investigate the activities of such people where there is a threat to the defence of the realm as a whole from attempts at espionage and sabotage, or from actions of persons and organisations (whether directed from within or without the country) which may be judged subversive of the state.