§ Baroness Hornsby-Smithasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware that on Saturday 9th June the CND demonstration caused great inconvenience to residents and other members of the public including foreign tourists in parts of SW 1 and whether they will take steps to minimise the inconvenience caused by such demonstrations in future.
§ Lord EltonThe Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has confirmed to us that inconvenience to residents, pedestrians and traffic was indeed caused by the demonstration. Within the powers available to them, the police took steps to minimise this inconvenience, as they do with any other march or demonstration. One of the principal purposes of my right honourable friend's current review of public order law is to seek to establish the correct balance in law between the freedom of demonstrators and the rights of other people to go about their business safely and without obstruction or inconvenience.