§ MR. J. F. HOGAN (Tipperary, Mid)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department—(1) whether he will consider the propriety of establishing some system of regulation, and insisting on satisfactory proofs of good faith and the production of credentials, before sanctioning street collections for charitable objects in future; (2) whether the police have recently been made aware of gross abuses and frauds on the public in this 259 connection; and, (3) whether the "move on" regulation can be applied to persons who take up fixed stations in the streets without leave or authority?
§ SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYThese collections are not sanctioned either by myself or by the police, and without statutory powers I cannot make regulations or insist on the production of credentials or proofs of good faith. The answer to the second paragraph is in the negative, and to the third that if obstruction is caused or the general public annoyed by these collectors they would be cautioned and, if necessary, removed. But so far I have received no complaints of obstruction.