§ Mr. MORGAN JONESasked the Home Secretary whether the action of the police at Caerphilly and Abertridwr during the last week-end in prohibiting the holding of public meetings under the auspices of the Communist party had his official sanction?
§ Captain HACKINGYes, Sir. The Chief Constable of Glamorgan prohibited these meetings under an authority given by my right hon. Friend in pursuance of No. 22 of the Emergency Regulations.
§ Mr. JONESIs the hon. and gallant Member aware that in the public notice 1086 relative to this matter authority is cited under Emergency Regulation No. 7 and not under Regulation No. 22? May I ask further, whether this ban is a ban to be applied merely for one occasion, last weekend, or for the whole of this industrial dispute, and whether it applies to the Communist party alone or to all political organisations?
§ Captain HACKINGThe discretion is left to the Chief Constable. He has the powers now, if he cares to avail himself of those powers, to prohibit any meeting if he believes that such a meeting will lead to a breach of the peace.
§ Mr. JONESMay I press this matter? May I ask for a specific answer whether the notice—a copy of which I hold in my hand—does not imply that this ban is to apply for a long period, and that at the bottom of the notice the ban applies to a specific date, that is, last week-end?
§ Captain HACKINGI have not seen the notice, but if the Chief Constable determines over a period of time that it will lead to a breach of the peace to hold these meetings, he is authorised to prohibit them.
§ Mr. JONESIf public speeches during this crisis are deemed to be liable to lead to breaches of the peace, will this apply to the Home Secretary's speech at Newport next Monday?