HC Deb 12 April 1951 vol 486 c1179
35. Mr. Keeling

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will draw the attention of the Magistrates' Association to the increasing loss of lead by theft from the roofs of churches and other old buildings, and to the irreparable damage which this may cause to beautiful interiors.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Ede)

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Lich-field and Tamworth (Mr. Snow) on 5th April.

Mr. Keeling

As only the other day the theft of lead from a church roof in Buckinghamshire led to a magnificent 18th century ceiling being destroyed by rainwater, will not the Home Secretary at least now express his detestation of such thefts?

Mr. Ede

I am very much against this kind of theft or any other, but I have no reason to think that members of the Magistrates' Association are the thieves.