HC Deb 01 August 1984 vol 65 cc305-6W
Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many persons were arrested for obstruction outside the South African embassy in 1982 and 1983;

(2) how many persons have been arrested for obstruction outside the South African embassy during the last 20 years.

Mr. Hurd

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that informatiom is not collated in the form requested; it could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the ban on holding demonstrations outside the South African embassy was issued following consultations between South African representatives and British officials.

Mr. Hurd

As my hon. Friend the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office explained at column309 in a reply on 6 July to a question from the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Deakins) the embassy has made representations about demonstrations outside their premises. As my hon. Friend also said, the policing of demonstrations in the Metropolis is a matter for the Commissioner of Police. His decision to prohibit demonstrations outside all diplomatic missions was an operational matter, about which there were no consultations with Ministers or their officials.