§ Mr. Ron Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police personnel of all ranks were on duty on Monday 22 January in connection with the Hyde Park rally, march and lobby of Parliament by public service workers; what was the total cost to public funds of employing the police on these duties; how many persons were charged in connection with the march and lobby; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that during the rally, march and lobby by public service workers on 22 January, 3,664 police officers were deployed. The demonstration occasioned no disorder and no arrests were made. It would involve disproportionate effort and expense to estimate the additional cost of deploying officers who would not otherwise have been on duty.