Former MP for Edinburgh West
I beg to move, in page 12, line 27, to leave out paragraph (a), and to insert: "(a) for the reference in paragraph 4 of the Schedule to the Lord Chancellor there shall be substituted a reference to the Secretary of State and for any reference elsewhere in this Act to the Lord Chancellor there shall be substituted a reference to the Lord Justice General;(b) for references to the High Court...
I have been asked to reply. No action has been taken against any person because of his association with Scottish Nationalism or the Scottish Nationalist Party. In consequence, however, of information in the possession of the authorities, search warrants obtained under Defence Regulation 88A were executed on 3rd May at certain premises in which it was believed that evidence would be found...
With regard to the first part of the hon. Member's supplementary question, the firearms which were revealed were not of a kind used for sporting purposes. As regards the second part of the question, the procedure under the search warrants followed the ordinary course. They were granted on sworn informations, by sheriffs in certain cases and by justices of the peace in certain cases.
Certainly not. I think the hon. Member asked me whose authority was given for the search warrants, but, as I stated in my original Answer, the action was taken because of information in the possession of the authorities indicating that acts prejudicial to the public safety and the Defence of the Realm were being committed or were in contemplation, and the action was deliberately concerted...
I have already made it plain that the purpose of the search, as the Defence Regulations make it plain, was to enable evidence to be obtained of the commission of certain offences by certain persons, not necessarily the persons whose premises were searched. I have made no allegation against any specific person.
But I have stated, and I repeat, that the information in the possession of the authorities justified the search being made and I would venture to add that the discovery of the firearms and ammunition in itself justifies the action taken.
I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment." This Amendment, and the next page of Amendments, down to and including page 76, line 34, to leave out Sub-section (20), are Amendments to the Scottish application Clause, and in every case they are consequential upon decisions which this House has already taken. I shall be glad to answer any questions which...
What I mean is that the changes here embodied have all been rendered necessary, either by changes which this House has made on the Recommittal stage, or by Amendments made in another place with which this House has now agreed. There is no new point raised in these Amendments.
