§ COLONEL SANDYS (Lancashire, Bootle), who was greeted with ironical Nationalist cheers, asked the Attorney General (1) whether he was aware that on Sunday 31st May, a Roman Catholic procession walked through the streets from the Roman Catholic church to the convent in the Queen's Road, Peckham, in which several Roman Catholic priests, wearing the official vestments of their order, took part; (2) that on that occasion images and flags were carried through the streets accompanied by a crossbearer, acolytes, etc., singing a hymn to the Virgin Mary, and followed by a number 1240 of Roman Catholics, many of whom were specially dressed for the occasion; (3) that the procession was distasteful to many persons unavoidably present as passers by; and that this is by no means the first of these processions held recently in the suburbs of London and elsewhere; (4) whether the law of this country permits such to be held outside a Roman Catholic building; and (5) if he will state whether they are legal or illegal?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir RICHARD WEBSTER, Isle of Wight)I am not aware of the facts stated in the first paragraph of the Question of the hon. and gallant Member. Assuming them to be correct, the processions in question were not in accordance with law. As at present advised I do not propose to take any proceedings. [Cheers.]