§ MR. J. ROWLANDS (Finsbury, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Horns Department whether he will lay upon the Table of the House a Return of the processions in London for the last three years; and whether he can show in the Return what was the object of the procession, how many persons were supposed to be in each procession, and how many police were detailed off to look after each procession?
§ MR. MATTHEWSIn 1889 1,177 meetings and processions are reported to me as having taken place; in 1888 1,403; in three months of 1887 198. The Commissioner of Police tolls me that lie is notable to give the figures for any earlier period. The Commissioner does not consider that in the public interest it would be advisable to state the numbers of police "detailed off to look after each procession." No estimate of the numbers of persons "supposed to be in each procession" can now be given. Under these circumstances it does not seem necessary to present any Return to Parliament, as I have given the hon. Member the information I possess.
§ MR. J. ROWLANDSWhat was the object of each procession?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI have no information.
§ MR. CREMER (Shoreditch, Haggerston)The answer of the right hon. Gentleman confuses meetings and processions. Can the right hon. Gentleman give the numbers of processions as distinguished from meetings? Does the Return include preaching at the corners of streets on Sunday, and persons gathered together by some one speaking? Can the right hon. Gentleman state the number of complaints that have been made to the authorities of disturbances arising out of the meetings to which he has alluded?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI must ask for notice of the questions.