§ 13. Mr. LANSBURYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many processions of the unemployed have marched from the Bow and Bromley Division of Poplar to take part in demonstrations held in Trafalgar Square 2241 or Hyde Park during the past three years; on how many of these occasions did disorder or riot take place; how many persons were arrested and charged with offences; and is he now in a position to inform the House of the nature of the evidence which led him to consider that the proposed demonstration on 11th July would lead to disorder?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSIt would be difficult without much research to give the details asked for in the first part of the question, but I readily admit that the demonstrations to which the hon. Member refers have been on the whole orderly. There have, however, on occasions been breaches of the peace, and the demonstration proposed was prohibited under the Emergency Regulations on the ground that there was reason during the present emergency to apprehend that it would conduce to a breach of the peace, and thereby cause undue demands to be made upon the police.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWill the right hon. Gentleman give the House the evidence on which that decision was arrived at, and, further, is it not the fact that the Bow and Bromley Division has been for years one of the most peaceful and law-abiding Divisions in the country?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI can only say that I act upon the advice and representations to myself of the Commissioner of Police, who is responsible. If he assures me that he apprehends a breach of the peace, I act on that. With regard to the second part of the hon. Member's supplementary question, I will, if he desires it, pay special attention to Bow and Bromley, and see what the result is.
§ Mr. LANSBURYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the best way to create disorder is to prevent the holding of public meetings; and will he give to the House and to the people in Bow the evidence on which the police have told him that they are too dangerous to be allowed to hold a meeting?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe police have not told me anything of the kind. The police came to me and stated that in their opinion this was a demonstration which was likely to lead to a breach of the peace. They are responsible. If, 2242 however, the hon. Member says his people are law-abiding, I will endeavour to see whether they can hold meetings. I do not desire to prohibit meetings, or anything of that kind.