HC Deb 23 September 1948 vol 456 cc1073-5

The following Question stood upon the Order Paper in the name of Mr. JOHN LEWIS:

35. To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the Chief Constable of Stockport, without permission from the magistrate, has recently refused to permit representatives of the Press and members of the public to enter or leave the Stockport Borough Magistrates Court during the time the Court was in session; on what authority the public and the Press were thus denied a facility which has always been available to them; and if he will give instructions that in future there shall be no violation of established Court practice.

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Lewis.

Wing-Commander Hulbert

On a point of Order. May I ask your guidance, Mr. Speaker? Is it in the traditions of this House and in accordance with the courtesy between hon. Members for one hon. Member to put down a very detailed Question about another hon. Member's constituency without so informing him?

Mr. Speaker

Usually inside a party one always does it. It is always desirable to inform the hon. Member concerned that such a Question is going to be put down, but there is nothing definite about it.

Mr. John Lewis

Might I explain that there were connections between my own constituency and this particular matter, which was drawn to my attention during the Recess and, therefore, there was no opportunity before the Question was put down for me to contact the hon. and gallant Member for Stockport (Wing-Commander Hulbert).

Mr. Ede

I have made inquiries and am informed that on one occasion, in consequence of complaints made from time to time by individual justices that the noise in this court was making it difficult to hear cases, a police officer was stationed at the door of the court and stopped people going in and out whilst the hearing of a case was actually in progress. I understand that the justices have decided that this arrangement should not be continued.

Mr. Lewis

Is it not a fact that this police officer was placed at the door of the court on the specific instruction of the Chief Constable who did not consult the magistrates? Is it not further a fact that the magistrates expressed their resentment at this behaviour on the part of the Chief Constable? Will my right hon. Friend undertake that in future he will give instructions that established court practice, whereby members of the Press and of the public are entitled to go in and out of courts of summary jurisdiction and other courts, will not be violated?

Mr. Ede

I think it is desirable that courts should be conducted in a seemly manner. If people drift in and out of court and about court while cases are in progress, it may make it difficult for the case to be properly conducted. The magistrates had expressed a view with regard to the noise in this court, and the Chief Constable thought he had received a hint as to what should happen. He carried out what he thought were the wishes of the bench, but they subsequently came to the conclusion that it was not necessary for the steps which he had taken to be taken.

Wing-Commander Hulbert

Will the right hon. Gentleman agree that this Chief Constable, who is an able officer, was acting in the best interests of the court and, as he believed, in accordance with the direction of the justices?

Mr. Ede

I do not think I have anything to add to my last answer.

Wing-Commander Hulbert

is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the constituents of Stockport are quite satisfied with their two Members without the intervention of the hon. Member for Bolton (Mr. J. Lewis)?