§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the police have any statutory power to refuse to grant or renew certificates under "The Chimney Sweepers Act, 1875," to persons who have been convicted of burglary, theft, or other felony; and whether complaints have reached him that persons who have been so convicted carry on the business or trade of chimney sweepers, and thus have special facilities for committing crime?
§ MR. ASQUITHThere is no statutory power such as that mentioned in the first paragraph. I understand that no complaints on the subject have come to the knowledge of the police.