HL Deb 23 July 1981 vol 423 cc349-51

3.8 p.m.

Baroness Elliot of Harwood

My 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 whether in the light of recent violence they intend to speed up their review of the Public Order Act and to introduce new legislation as a matter of urgency.

The Parliamentary-Under Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Belstead)

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Home Secretary intends this review to maintain a good momentum, but as he said in a debate on 16th July in another place it would be wrong to hurry forward with legislation in this difficult field. He therefore intends to examine, in consultation with my right honourable and learned friends the Lord Chancellor, the Attorney General and the Lord Advocate, the value of new proposals in the general context of what powers should be available to the police to maintain order and to deal with disorder.

Baroness Elliot of Harwood

My Lords, I thank the Minister very much for that reply. I am sure that the consultations will be of great importance and will prove to be a great success. But does the Minister realise that the Public Order Act, under which the police are at present operating, dates from 1936? It seems to me that it is a long time since anybody tried to alter that to meet present conditions and—although I agree that it is extremely difficult—a little speed might help the police; 1936 was a long time ago.

Lord Belstead

My Lords, I am entirely in agreement with my noble friend Lady Elliot. This was why we produced a paper and why we have been looking very carefully at the provisions of the 1936 Act. However, may I add that in the very difficult times which we have been going through I think my right honourable friend the Home Secretary has acted with speed and with decision so far as supporting the actions of the police is concerned. Although we in the Home Office are now looking urgently at the matter, in consultation with my right honourable and learned friends, if we rushed into legislation it would be something which I think we should repent at leisure.

Lord Elwyn-Jones

My Lords, is the noble Lord able to give a provisional view of the outcome of the considerable consultations which have been taking place about the right of procession, one of the particular matters in the report which led to the setting up of the appropriate committee?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, the noble and learned Lord is absolutely right. This was among the issues discussed in the Green Paper on the Public Order Act 1936 and related legislation. It raises a difficult question of balance between the freedom of people in this country to do things which are within the law and the desire and the right of us all to live in peace. We hope to be able to come up with some views on this matter for Parliament to consider again in the near future.

Lord Paget of Northampton

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that there have not been many occasions in recent years upon which I have had an opportunity to congratulate Her Majesty's Government, but that on this occasion the Home Secretary is greatly to be congratulated for the way he has kept his head and not responded by violent measures to violent actions?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord. I shall draw what he has said to the attention of my right honourable friend.