§ Mr. PIKE(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the resolution of the "Sheffield United Action Committee" (composed of representatives of several trade unions, the Independent Labour party, some co-operative organisations, the Anti-War Committee, and the Communist party) pledging itself to demonstrate against the meeting to be held at the City Hall, Sheffield, on Thursday, 28th June, to be addressed by Sir Oswald Mosley; whether he is aware that 109 delegates representing 63 organisations unanimously endorsed this resolution; and if, in the interests of public life and property, he will ban both demonstrations?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Gilmour)Yes, Sir. My hon. Friend has been good enough to send to me Press cuttings relating to the Fascist meeting to be held in Sheffield on the 28th instant and to the proposed counter-demonstration. I have no power to ban these or any other meetings. I have been in communication with the Chief Constable of Sheffield, who informs me that the police are making all necessary arrangements to preserve order both inside and outside the meeting.
§ Mr. PIKEWhile thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that the organisations to which the question refers claim to have between 6,000 and 7,000 sympathisers who are likely to join in a demonstration against the Mosley meeting; and, as access to and egress from the meeting will be subject to the actions of the demonstrators, will he ensure, in the interests of the public, that adequate protection against demonstration will be afforded to them, without unnecessary or additional cost being thrown upon the ratepayers of Sheffield as the result of imported police services?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI have no direct responsibilty for this matter, but I have every confidence that the Chief Constable will deal with it adequately.
§ Sir FRANK SANDERSONDoes not my right hon. Friend consider that it is about time that this House refrained from giving free advertisement to such persons?
§ Mr. MAXTONWill the right hon. Gentleman say what steps the police in Sheffield would take to preserve order inside the meeting?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThat would be a matter for the police on the spot.
§ Mr. MAXTONDid I not understand from the right hon. Gentleman in the previous Debate on this matter, that the police had no right of access to a meeting?
§ Sir J. GILMOURAs I have said to the House, the police only have a right to enter a meeting if the promoters of the meeting are prepared to ask them to do so, or if they subsequently ascertain that a breach of the peace is actually taking place. I have no reason to suppose that they will not be in a position to take all the steps that may be necessary.