§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute an inquiry under the Police Act to ascertain how, and on whose authority, a Polish-born British citizen, details of whom have been supplied to him, was interrogated by the police not for anything he had done but for that which it was thought he might do; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe police have a responsibility for providing adequate protection and public order supervision when visiting Prime Ministers or other dignitaries are in this country. The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that, in accordance with normal procedure, the police interviewed a number of people who might be contemplating a demonstration in connection with the visit of the Polish Prime Minister so as to make sure that they were fully aware of the law in this country as regards their right to demonstrate and so that appropriate police arrangements could be made. There is no question of the police acting on behalf of foreign Governments or placing people under restraint at their request.