§ 18. Mr. Gallacherasked the First Lord of the Admiralty on whose instructions plain clothes police were called to the Unicorn Gate, Portsmouth Dockyard, on 27th January to confiscate leaflets relating to the recent dismissals at Sheerness and Devonport that were being distributed there?
§ Sir S. HoareThe naval authorities, having been informed that it was intended to distribute certain leaflets to dockyard employés, the dissemination of which in the dockyards would be contrary to the regulations, drew the attention of the Portsmouth city police to the position. The subsequent action was taken solely on the authority of the city police.
§ Mr. GallacherCan the right hon. Gentleman provide us with the regulations which empower the civil police to take quite ordinary leaflets advising members of trade unions out of the hands of ordinary civilians?
§ Sir S. HoareNo, Sir. I have no jurisdiction in the field of the city police. All we did was to give the city police certain information, and they were responsible for the action they took, and not the dockyard authorities.