Mr. BECKETT(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any information as to action by the police at Gateshead following upon a public demonstration of protest against the arrest of two strikers?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir William Joynson-Hicks)I received a brief report last night that a large crowd assembled, that three men were arrested who were causing disturbances, that two of them have been convicted and fined £50 with the alternative of two months' imprisonment. I have no further information at the moment.
Mr. BECKETTI regret that I was only able to give brief notice of this question. Can the right hon. gentleman tell me whether there were any extra police or special police drafted in, or whether this was the action of the police normally employed in the town?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI cannot answer all these questions off-hand. I do not want to give information to the House which is not strictly accurate. If the hon. Member puts a question down on Monday or Tuesday, I will have a full report.
Mr. BECKETTPerhaps the right hon. gentleman will be kind enough to let me have any information he gets.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI will.
§ Mr. WHITELEYWhat was the actual charge against these men? Was it alleged that they had interfered with food permits or with actual food convoys?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have read out to the House all the information I have at the moment. I have not been able to get any more since I received the hon. Member's question.