§ 28. Sir Alfred Beitasked the Home Secretary the number of persons arrested for being drunk and disorderly in the County of London during Coronation week; and the number so arrested during the corresponding week of 1936?
§ Mr. LloydI regret that the particulars asked for by my hon. Friend could not be extracted without a considerable expenditure of time and labour. I can, however, inform him that the number of persons charged with drunkenness of all kinds in the whole Metropolitan Police District during Coronation week was 492. The figures for the corresponding week in 1936 are not available, but the figure for the week preceding Coronation week was 405.
§ Sir A. BeitDoes not my hon. Friend consider that that figure is significant, in view of the event which was being celebrated, the record crowds which assembled, and the extended hours of opening of licensed premises; and does he not think that the time has now arrived when there might be some relaxation of restrictions?