§ Mr. DOUGLAS HALLasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state the number of 1327 wooden barriers erected across streets adjoining the route of the recent royal processions in London; how many of such barriers were closed on the days of the processions; and what was the total cost of their construction and erection?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Churchill)Eighty-three wooden barriers were erected. Of these it was found necessary to close ten for a longer or shorter period. As the accounts have not yet been made up, it is not possible to specify the exact cost—but the cost of these gates is estimated not to exceed by much the amount (£6,276) expended on similar gates in 1902.
§ Mr. DOUGLAS HALLIs it not a fact that the barriers were perfectly useless, and had the effect of frightening away a great many of the loyal inhabitants of London who wished to view the Coronation?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThey might not have been useless if they had not been there.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTWere these barriers an innovation, or were similar barriers erected ten years ago in anticipation of the Coronation of King Edward?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes, Sir, they were similar.
Sir HENRY DALZIELHow many were used? Will the right hon. Gentleman answer that part of the question?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLTen.
Mr. KINGHas the right hon. Gentleman assured himself that he had legal warrant for the erection of these barriers?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo, I have not.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLWell, Sir, I am rather doubtful about the law.
§ Mr. SPEAKERQuestions of that sort, involving some legal research, should be put down on the Paper.