MR. LAWSON (St. Pancras, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the London County Council have taken any action with regard to the muzzling order 1259 issued by the Privy Council; if not, whether the Commissioner of Police will act on his own authority; and, if so, whether this course will accord with the provisions of the Act in question?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. MATTHEWS,) Birmingham, EThe London County Council have not yet taken any action with regard to the Order in Council, but, as the Order is not yet in operation, the Local Authority is not yet in default. If the County Council becomes in default, the power conferred on the Privy Council by the Act of 1878 may be used. The Commissioner of Police would not act on his own responsibility, but only as prescribed by the Act.