Politicians have frequently raised concerns about Scientology’s activities in the United Kingdom since its founder L. Ron Hubbard first established the ‘Dianetics Foundation of Great Britain’ in 1952. From 1957 to 1959, Hubbard lived at Fitzroy House in London before acquiring Saint Hill Manor near East Grinstead in 1959, which served as Scientology’s worldwide headquarters until 1966.

Although census data indicates the number of Scientologists in the UK is declining, Saint Hill continues to act as a major operational base and fundraising arm for the group with thousands of parishioners flocking to the property every year to attend the ‘International Association of Scientologists’ (IAS) anniversary gala.

In light of Scientology’s recent move to ban protestors by requesting Mid-Sussex District Council implement a Public Spaces Protection Order, we thought it would be fitting to publish a list of excerpts from the UK’s political archives that demonstrate the public interest and widespread concern about the organisation’s activities.

Here are a selection of quotes from Parliamentary debates relating to Scientology, taken from Westminster’s Hansard archive of debates in the House of Commons and House of Lords.

“What would be quite inexcusable would be to allow great harm to come to some who are mentally ill, who would not have attended this organisation had they been aware of its real nature.”

“The Anderson Commission reported the unsavoury, and indeed disgraceful methods by which people were induced to embark on a course of scientology: how, once they had embarked, it was impossible to break away, and the resulting financial consequences and damage to health; how harmful hypnotic procedures were used, and a great store of personal information filed away which would do great damage if it were ever released how family discords were provoked; how inquiry agents were set on the trail of those who opposed scientology, including even the member of the Victoria Legislative Council who raised the subject in that assembly.”

“There is good reason to suppose that these harmful practices are being carried on in this country.”

“It is, therefore, necessary for me to state the facts of the case of Miss Henslow, my constituent, and I do so with the express permission of her mother, for she recognises that the harm that scientology can do to others far out-weights the pain she is forced to endure by a recital of the facts.”

Peter Hordern MP for Horsham
HC Deb 6 March 1967, vol 742, cols 1217-1228

“Several hon. Members have expressed anxiety over the possible damage done by scientology to the mental health of its clients and over what they see as a harmful influence in an even wider context. The East Grinstead Urban District Council have conveyed to me the terms of a resolution passed last December expressing grave concern at the effects the activities of scientology may be having upon the town and its people.”

“What they do, however, is to direct themselves deliberately towards the weak, the unbalanced, the immature, the rootless and the mentally or emotionally unstable; to promise them remoulded, mature personalities and to set about fulfilling the promise by means of untrained staff, ignorantly practising quasi-psychological techniques, including hypnosis. It is true that the scientologists claim not to accept as clients people known to be mentally sick, but the evidence strongly suggests that they do.”

Kenneth Robinson, Minister for Health
HC Deb 6 March 1967, vol 742, cols 1217-1228

“Many open-minded people in the town of East Grinstead, whose judgment on matters of this kind one can trust, are seriously disturbed by the activities and objectives of this organisation known as Scientology. I have received information which would indicate that the case which we heard from my hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr. Hordern) is not an isolated example, information which would add substance to the arguments which have been put forward.”

“In the past, those who have dared to question its activities have been subjected to a campaign of vilification”

Sir Geoffrey Johnson-Smith, MP for Wealden
HC Deb 6 March 1967, vol 742, cols 1217-1228

“I know that serious allegations have been made and it is right that people should be warned of the potential dangers of becoming involved in organisations of that kind.”

“If someone comes to me as a Minister, or to anyone else, and makes allegations and we simply refer the matter to a member of the Church of Scientology, or any other cult, it is unlikely that they will say: “Yes, of course we harass people and extort money from them”, or whatever it is. Their natural reaction will simply be denial.”

“I can say that sometimes it is fear that prevents people from doing that and sometimes it is sheer distress, not only on the part of the individual but on the part of the individual’s family.”

Baronness Blatch
HL Deb 17 December 1996, vol 576, cols 1393-1394 

“They exercise the most pernicious influence on our society, especially on family life, separating children from parents and making huge profits and fortunes for their founders. In these circumstances, is it not high time that there should be legislation to curb their activities, for example, by a licensing system under which they could be struck off if guilty of practices harmful to the state”

Lord Denning
HL Deb 12 May 1987, vol 487, cols 543-544

“During the course of the libel action brought by the Church of Scientology against the honourable Member Mr. Geoffrey Johnson Smith, in which my noble and learned friend Lord Elwyn-Jones led so successfully for the defence? The jury’s decision clearly supported the conclusion of the then Minister of Health that scientology was socially harmful and that its methods could be a serious danger to the health of those who submitted to it.”

Lord Boston of Faversham
HL Deb 8 August 1980, vol 412, cols 1764-1768

“First of all, there is what is known as “love bombing” and then they are treated to deprivation of sleep and inadequate diet.”

Lord Gainford
HL Deb 8 August 1980, vol 412, cols 1764-1768

“Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are a number of citizens, some of them councillors, in East Grinstead who can be inhibited from making what I regard as perfectly fair and proper comment in pursuit of their public duties because of the inaction of the Government, or, if not because of that, at least because, under prevailing conditions, they feel, as a result of libel writs issued on them, that they must pursue a policy of silence”

Geoffrey Johnson-Smith, MP for Wealden
HC Deb 2 December 1968, vol 774, cols 1018-1019

“This policy, which applies to Scientology alone, was announced in 1968 by the then Minister of Health who stated that Scientology was socially harmful and that its methods could be a serious danger to the health of those who submitted to them”

Deputy Prime Minister William Whitelaw
HC Deb 16 July 1980, vol 988