§ 8. Mr. LEEasked the Home Secretary whether it was on his instructions that it was decided to ban the holding of a miners' meeting in the Miners' Welfare Hall, Clown, Derbyshire, on Sunday morning last; and whether such ban was against a meeting being held at all, or was it against the meeting being addressed by a Mr. Mullins?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by me to the hon. Member for Dumbarton Burghs (Mr. D. Kirkwood) on 11th instant, when I said that the meeting was prohibited by the Chief Constable of Derbyshire under authority given by me, in pursuance of No. 22 of the Emergency Regulations. It was prohibited in view of the fact that it 1933 was a public meeting, and was to be addressed by Mr. Mullins, whose speech was considered by the police as likely to cause disaffection. Ordinary lodge meetings have not been prohibited.
§ Mr. LEECan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Chief Constable is delegating his powers to the Superintendent of Police?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSNo; that is quite impossible. No one but a Chief Constable has powers delegated from myself, and a Chief Constable has no power to delegate at all.
§ Mr. TAYLORIs it now regarded as a crime to make a speech which causes dissatisfaction?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI did not say so.
§ Mr. TAYLORYes, you did, in your first reply.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThen I take it from the hon. Member that I did, but the word should have been "disaffection," and that is in the document from which I read.
§ Mr. TAYLORDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think that his own speeches cause disaffection?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSHonestly, I do not think they do.
Mr. BECKETTIf the right hon. Gentleman would address open meetings, instead of private meetings, he would find that that is so.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI had a very good open meeting last night.
§ 11. Mr. N. MACLEANasked the Home Secretary whether he has sent, or instructed to be sent, to the chief constables in England and Wales, a list of speakers who are not to be allowed to address public meetings in mining areas?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have thought it right to draw the attention of chief constables to the published list of speakers taking part in the campaign organised by the Communist party; but the decision whether any particular meeting should be prohibited rests, as I have explained before, with the Chief Constable within whose district the meeting is to take place.
§ Mr. MACLEANWill the right hon. Gentleman supply the House with the list which is sent round to chief constables, so that we may know?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have received information that this matter is to be discussed this evening. If the hon. Member is fortunate enough to take part in the Debate, and will put that question, I would endeavour to satisfy him.
Mr. BECKETTAre there any people on the list who are employed by the Economic Union, who used to be employed by Mr. Bottomley, and whose speeches are causing great provocation in the mining areas?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe hon. Member must give me notice of that question.