§ 9. Mr. Mathewasked the Minister of Works what consultations he held with leaders of the Established Church and of other Christian Churches in Great Britain before deciding to authorise the holding of a partisan political demonstration in Trafalgar Square on Good Friday, 1958.
§ Mr. MolsonNone, Sir.
§ Mr. MathewWill not my right hon. Friend reconsider this decision in view of the fact that Good Friday is a day of fasting and penitence in the Christian calendar and that traditionally the Church sets aside Good Friday afternoon for religious observance?
§ Mr. MolsonI should have come to exactly the same decision had there been a request from a religious body to hold a religious meeting there. On two previous occasions permission to hold a meeting in Trafalgar Square was refused to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Rural Dean of Westminster. That is quite unreasonable, and it is not for me to seek to draw a distinction between religious and political meetings or the political complexion of those who wish to hold them.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The matter is to be raised on the Adjournment tonight by the hon. Member for Yarmouth (Mr. Fell).