§ Mr. Fisherasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions or guidelines he has issued to police forces with regard to their rights to stop cars and coaches and to turn them back and to the implementation of any such rights.
§ Mr. HurdMy right hon. and learned Friend has no authority to give instructions to chief officers of police on22W matters of this kind. He is satisfied that they are aware of the relevant law and police powers, to which he referred in his statement on picketing at collieries on 15 March and of which my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General gave a full account in his reply on 16 March at columns 279–80, to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for South Hams (Mr. Steer). My right hon. and learned Friend has issued no guidelines on the enforcement of this law of the exercise of these powers.