HC Deb 22 May 1946 vol 423 c77W
32. Mr. Piratin

asked the Attorney-General if he is satisfied that existing enactments or regulations are adequate to enable Fascist activity and anti-Semitic activity to be dealt with in the criminal courts; and if he will specify the enactments or regulations under which such activities could be dealt with.

The Attorney-General

There are no statutory enactments or orders directed to the suppression of any particular political organisation, but the common law with regard to sedition, seditious conspiracy and seditious libel and the Public Order Act, 1936, give the authorities wide powers to prosecute those whose activities are designed to foster disaffection, or to promote hostility or between different classes of the community, where such activities are really mischievous and are calculated to disturb the King's peace. These provisions of the law have so far been found adequate to deal with those who abuse the generous measure of freedom of belief and of speech that has always been accorded to the citizens of this country. I have no reason to think that they will not be adequate in the future.