HC Deb 22 July 1897 vol 51 cc728-9
COLONEL T. M. SANDYS (Lancashire, Bootle)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware that recently, on a Sunday afternoon, a Roman Catholic procession walked through the streets from the Roman Catholic church to the convent in Queen's Road at Peckham; that images with flags were carried through the streets followed by a cross-bearer, acolytes, etc., singing a hymn to the Virgin Mary, and followed by a number of Roman Catholics, many of whom were dressed specially for the occasion; and that this is by no means the first of these processions which have taken place in the outskirts of London; whether the law permits a Roman Catholic religious procession to walk outside the walls of any Roman Catholic building in this country; and, whether, if it is against the law, any proceedings will be taken?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)

The Question of my hon. Friend relates to a matter of law of which I am really not competent to give information — [laughter]—but if he will be good enough to put it down on some subsequent day my learned Friend the Attorney General will give him an answer. [Laughter.]