§ Dr. Petersasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, having regard to the advances made in the study of psychic research during the past 25 years, he considers the provisions of the Witchcraft Act, 1735, are now applicable to public and private meetings of spiritualists, or societies for psychical research, held in their own churches or halls, or in hired premises, where a medium is engaged to demonstrate or lecture; and if he will take steps to introduce legislation to amend the law.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonAlthough the Witchcraft Act, 1735, is over 200 years old, it is not an archaic or obsolete Statute. It abolished proceedings for witchcraft, sorcery, inchantment or conjuration, and substituted a provision penalising fraudulent pretences to exercise or use such arts or powers. The question whether an offence against the Act is committed in any particular case is a matter for the decision of the courts. As at present advised I see no reason to introduce amending legislation.
§ Mr. Brooksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department upon whose instructions the police at Altrincham took action to ban the spiritualist public meeting on 15th October, 1944; and upon what grounds the police interfere with religious freedom by objecting to payment for seats at meetings held by spiritualists or societies for psychic research, or the taking of a collection, even when the whole or part of the proceeds are for charitable purposes.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonI assume that my hon. Friend refers to the meeting which was, in fact, held in the Town Hall, Sale, on 15th October. The police took no action to ban this meeting. I understand, however, that the question whether money would be taken at this meeting was relevant to the question whether the consent of the justices to the opening of the hall on Sunday was required.
§ Dr. Petersasked the Secretary of State or the Home Department (1) whether his attention has been directed to the recent banning of a public meeting convened by spiritualists at Altrincham, on the application of the police to the justices, on the ground that such meeting 648W would be a breach of the provisions of the Witchcraft Act, 1735; whether it is the policy of His Majesty's Government to ban all public meetings where mediums propose to demonstrate their psychic gifts; and how is this reconciled with the inherent right of public assembly and religious freedom;
(2) what objection there is to people paying for tickets for seats at any public meeting convened by spiritualists or societies for psychical research; and whether he will put an end to police interference with religious freedom and threats to ban such meetings where tickets are sold or a collection is to be made.
§ Mr. Brooksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, following upon his written assurances given to the National Union of Spiritualists after the deputation at the Home Office, on 27th July, 1943, he now proposes to authorise the banning of public meetings held by spiritualist churches or societies for psychic research, where mediums are engaged to demonstrate their psychic gifts and/or lecture thereon.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonI would refer my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave on 26th October to a Question by the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. W. J. Brown) and to which I have nothing to add.