§ 24. Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of arson or malicious damage have been recorded during the last three years against places of worship or assembly of racial or religious minorities; and what action is being taken to deal with groups inspiring and inducing these criminal offences.
§ Mr. TaverneI regret that this information is not available. The only relevant figures which I have relate to synagogues and other Jewish communal premises in the Metropolitan Police District. Nineteen cases of arson or malicious damage were reported in 1966, and nine have been reported this year. The police are paying special attention to this difficult problem.
§ Mr. RoseIs my hon. and learned Friend aware that police forces have been remarkably efficient in apprehend- 616 ing those responsible for these outrages? However, as I have in my possession an alarmingly long list of these offences, will he undertake to watch this position very closely in future?
§ Mr. TaverneYes, Sir, and I am grateful to my hon. Friend for the tribute which he has rightly paid to the police for this work.
§ Mr. HoggDoes the hon. and learned Gentleman recognise that these dastardly attacks are only the end product? Will he relate these attacks to the renewed dissemination through the post of anti-Semitic literature?
§ Mr. TaverneI agree that this is something which has to be watched. There is at least this encouraging fact to report— that the membership of the National Socialist movement seems to be declining to a very small band.