§ EARL WINTERTONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prosecutions under the Street Offences Act since it came into force have been brought in the Metropolitan Police Area, and what was the number of similar prosecutions in the same period of time prior to the coming into operation of the Act.]
EARL BATHURSTMy Lords, during the period from August 16, when the Street Offences Act came into operation, to November 15, the number of prosecutions in the Metropolitan Police District for offences against Section 1 of the Act was 464. In the corresponding period of three months in 1958, the number of prosecutions for similar offences was 4,318.
§ EARL WINTERTONMy Lords, in thanking my noble friend for his Answer, may I ask this short supplementary question? Will he, through the Public Relations Officer of the Home Office, give the widest publicity to these figures, as they seem entirely to confirm the wisdom of the Government, and of those of us who supported them, in bringing in the Act, and to refute the rather wounding charges which were brought against the Bill and its sponsors in your Lordships' House and in another place?
EARL BATHURSTMy Lords, I think that the noble Earl, by raising the matter to-day in your Lordships' House, has gone a long way towards; getting these figures publicised. I have no doubt that these figures will be available to all branches of the national Press which may be interested.
§ EARL WINTERTONI thank my noble friend very much.