§ 56. Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police were diverted from ordinary duties to guard or patrol the rugby football ground at Twickenham on 5th November and at what extra cost; if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable on the use of police manpower and the cost involved in similar circumstances at Leicester on 8th November; and what is his policy regarding the deployment of police to protect the Springbok team.
§ 58. Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of providing police protection for the South African touring side at Twickenham; and what he estimates will be the total cost to the Exchequer during the tour.
§ 59. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total cost to public funds of maintaining law and order to date in conection with the Springbok tour; what estimate he has made of the total cost for the 25-match tour; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CallaghanThe duty of the police is to preserve the peace.
At Twickenham, 540 police were on duty. 79 of them were inside the ground and are to be paid for by the 136W club. Transport and refreshment cost the police fund an extra £200. At Leicester 1,017 police were on duty, more of them in connexion with a demonstration. 75 police inside the ground are to be charged for. I do not yet know the additional cost to public funds on this occasion, nor can I yet estimate the likely total cost for the whole tour.
§ 60. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to provide that the total cost of police protection in conection with sporting activities shall be borne by the governing body of the sport concerned.
§ Mr. CallaghanI do not see any need to amend the law.