12. Mr. PONSONBYasked the Home Secretary whether two men, calling themselves Eckroyd and Neighbour, both wearing silver badges and posing as theatrical agents, are employed at York centre as secret agents; whether these men in the recent by-election at Keighley stayed at the Waverley Hotel, Low Street, and endeavoured by means of provocative questions to entrap visitors into conversation, the one talking and the other, under pretence of writing letters, taking down a report of the conversation; and whether these men wove furnished with papers giving them access to public or private buildings at any hour, and also giving them, in certain circumstances, the power of arrest?
§ Sir G. CAVEI had heard nothing of this matter before notice was given of this question. I have made such inquiries as time permitted, and the result negatives the suggestions that these two men, whatever their business may have been, were acting as agents of any Government Department, or that they were furnished with papers of the nature referred to in the last part of the question.
§ Mr. HOGGEHas my right hon. Friend satisfied himself that these men were wearing these silver badges legitimately?
§ Sir G. CAVEI have given the result of my inquiries, which I think answers the question.
§ Mr. HOGGEIn view of the fact that a great many men are wearing these badges, will the right hon. Gentleman make further inquiries and ascertain, apart from this question, whether those men were wearing silver badges legitimately?
§ Sir G. CAVEI will have inquiries made.