§ 34. Mr. Silvermanasked the Home Secretary whether he is now prepared to hold an inquiry into the conduct of the police on the occasion of certain demonstrations on 31st January last?
§ Sir S. Hoare.I have myself carried out a detailed inquiry into the charges made against the conduct of the police on the occasion of the demonstrations on 31st January. The material which I have had before me in connection with this matter included police reports, statements submitted to me by the hon. Member, contemporary newspaper reports, and statements submitted to me by independent persons. I have personally considered the whole of this material and, for reasons which I have fully explained in the letter which I addressed to the hon. Member on 5th May, I have decided that there is no ground for any further inquiry. It is, of course, open to the complainants in cases where they think they have ground for proceedings against individual officers, to seek their remedy in the courts, and the Commissioner of Police will be glad to answer any inquiries for the purpose of facilitating any such proceedings.
§ Mr. CrossleyOn a point of Order. Is it in Order for an hon. Member to put down a question which affords no sort of clue to other hon. Members as to where this demonstration took place?
§ Mr. SilvermanDoes the right hon. Gentleman not appreciate that the procedure which he has adopted and which he described in the letter to me to which he has referred, is a complete and undoubted breach of a specific undertaking 584 which the right hon. Gentleman offered to this House, and also of the arrangements which he personally made with the hon. Member for North Lambeth (Mr. G. Strauss) and myself in a personal interview? Has he any explanation to offer for a breach of that undertaking?
§ Sir S. HoareThe case is not as the hon. Member suggests. I told the House that I would make an inquiry and I have made an inquiry. As to the interview, I said that I must first see the actual proposals before committing myself and that I should have it if necessary. I have carried out my undertaking in every respect.
§ Mr. SilvermanDid not the right hon. Gentleman in the interview to which he has referred say that he would not take any further steps in the matter until he had considered the documents which we proposed to send to him and until he had had a further conference with the hon. Member for North Lambeth and myself?
§ Sir S. HoareNo, Sir.
§ Mr. CrossleyFurther to my point of Order. May I ask how any hon. Member is to trace where this demonstration took place?
§ Sir S. HoareThe hon. Member for Nelson and Colne (Mr. Silverman) is misinformed. I gave no such undertaking.
§ Mr. SilvermanIn view of what I must regard as the completely unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment on the earliest possible opportunity.