§ 11. Lieut.-Commander BOWERasked the Home Secretary the number of occasions on which permission was granted to hold flag days in the Metropolitan area in the years 1929, 1930, and 1931?
Mr. STANLEYThe question refers to the number of occasions on which permission was granted, but a certain number of collections are dropped before or after issue of permit. The number of 1260 collections actually held in the years 1929, 1930 and 1931 were 298, 308 and 281, respectively. The majority of these were small local collections. Those covering the whole or a large part of the Metropolitan Police District in the three years were 27, 28 and 32. respectively.
§ Lieut.-Commander BOWERIn view of the great annoyance caused to the public by these flag days, does not the hon. Gentleman consider that the time has come to put a stop to this form of licensed blackmail?