§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis's estimate of the number of Socialist Workers party members present in the breakaway section of the National Union of Students march of Thursday 24 November.
§ Mr. HurdAs I said in my reply on 29 November to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) at column174, the faction which first broke away amounted to about 1,000 demonstrators many of whom were thought to be members of the Socialist Workers' party. The action of this group encouraged several thousand others to follow suit.
§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis's estimate of the number of police officers injured during the National Union of Students march of 24 November, the types of injury and the numbers that had to go to hospital, and the numbers of students injured, the types of injury and the numbers that had to go to hospital.
§ Mr. HurdAs I said in my reply on 29 November to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) at column174, it is estimated that 72 police officers were injured, and seven demonstrators of whom the commissioner is aware. There is no central record available of how many were taken to hospital, but it is understood that most injuries were minor. One woman police constable suffered concussion, spent four nights in hospital, and is 33W now experiencing severe memory loss. I have received separately a letter describing a serious leg injury to one of the demonstrators.