§ MR. BIGGARasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, How many policemen were told off on Saturday last to keep order at the performance at Sunderland where so many lives were lost? The hon. Member said, that the following words had apparently been left out of his Question by the printer—namely, Whether on the same day a number of policemen were set apart to keep order at a pigeon-shooting match, and whether the Homo Secretary did not consider that the exhibition at Sunderland was an occasion to which the attention of the police ought to have been directed rather than to a pigeon match?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTSir, this is a matter, as the House knows, that I can give no information upon. I have said over and over again that I have no control or authority over local police. As to the number of police that were on duty at the performance at Sunderland, that, no doubt, will be brought out in the course of the investigation which is to take place.