§ Earl WINTERTONasked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the inconvenience caused to Members of this House and to the public by the large crowd which assembled in Whitehall on Monday evening last; and if he will in future give orders to the police to prevent any large assemblage in Whitehall, as was done on the occasion of former disturbances by disorderly persons of both sexes?
§ Mr. ELLIS GRIFFITHCareful police arrangements were made on Monday evening with a view to minimise inconvenience to Members of Parliament and others, but the Commissioner of Police would not have been justified in removing the public from so important a thoroughfare as Whitehall unless there had been stronger reasons for so drastic a course than existed that evening.
§ Earl WINTERTONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that on the occasion referred to in the question the crowd were kept back by a police cordon at the Trafalgar square end of Whitehall, and would it not minimise the inconvenience if that arrangement were reverted to.
§ Mr. ELLIS GRIFFITHThat question will be considered.