§ Major COHEN(by Private Notice) asked the Home Secretary whether he has any information to give to the House concerning the fires which took place in Liverpool yesterday?
§ Sir J. HARMOOD-BANNERBefore the right hon. Gentleman answers, may I ask if he will supplement his reply by informing the House what steps were taken after the Sinn Fein disclosures, beyond the ordinary police measures, to protect life and property in Liverpool, and what steps are now being taken after 914 the attack, especially considering the large Irish population that there is in Liverpool?
§ Mr. SHORTTAccording to the latest information that I have obtained, the situation seems to be well in hand. There seems no doubt that the fires were the result of an organised conspiracy, and a conspiracy in which members of the Sinn Fein party were engaged. With regard to the precautions, the police took all the necessary precautions that they could possibly take, but I need hardly say that I cannot make them public.