§ MR. R. CHAMBERLAIN (Islington, W.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether the Primitive Methodist Gospel Mission open air services, hitherto conducted in Market Street, Caledonian Road, have been recently prohibited by the police, notwithstanding that these services have been held for two years without cause for complaint, and that a large majority of the ratepayers in the district is in favour of their continuance; and, whether he can state the reasons for police interference if this has taken place?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that in January last he received a written complaint from the inhabitants of Market Street, Caledonian Road, of the annoyance caused by religious services. The services were not prohibited by the police; but the holder of the service, on being informed of the complaint, voluntarily changed the place of meeting to another neighbouring street, where the residents did not object, and where the services are now held without complaint.