§ MR. KEIR HARDIE (West Ham, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, to whom I have given private notice of the question, whether the mine-owners of South Wales communicated with the Home Office on Friday last, requesting that troops should be sent to the strike districts; whether, in response to this request, 1,100 soldiers were sent; whether any disturbance has occurred in South Wales which the police have been unable to put down; and, if not, what was the justification for sending the soldiers?
§ MR. ASQUITHThe hon. Member has altered the form of his question since he gave me notice of it, but I will answer it. It is not the fact that the mine-owners of South Wales telegraphed for 3,000 soldiers; they did ask by telegram for the instant presence in the two Counties of Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire of a larger military force of horse and foot than was then in the district. In reply, applicants were informed that it was the duty of the Local Authorities and police to take all proper steps for the preservation of the peace, including, in case of necessity, application to the Military Authorities for such military assistance as might be required; and by a further telegram they were expressly informed that applications for military aid in case of not could only be received from the regular authorities—namely, the Chief Constable or Magistrates—and should be addressed to the General Officer Commanding Western District, Devonport. Copies of the telegrams from applicants were forwarded to Chief Constables for their information, and to the War Office with a request that if troops were called for by the proper authority they might be readily available. So far as I am aware, no troops have been sent on the application of anyone except the Local Authorities. The reason for sending the troops—the total number of which does not, so far as I am aware, exceed about 1,200—was that, in the opinion of the Magistrates, from which I saw no reason to dissent, the available police force on the spot was insufficient to protect 648 persons and property and to prevent the outbreak of disorder. The troops have been and will be used for no other purpose, and they will be withdrawn as soon as the necessity for their presence ceases.
§ *MR. KEIR HARDIECan the right hon. Gentleman the Home Secretary state how many persons occupying the position of Magistrates are mine-owners or persons interested in the mines?