HC Deb 19 February 1987 vol 110 cc738-9W
Ms. Clare Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many applications have been made for the use of Trafalgar Square for meetings in the past 12 months; how many have been granted; and how many refused;

(2) if he will list the organisations which have been given permission to hold meetings in Trafalgar Square and those which have been refused over the past 12 months.

Mr. Waldegrave

An application from the Co-ordinating Committee for British Withdrawal from Ireland for a meeting on 2 February 1986 was refused. Permission was given for the following 48 events:

Date Events
2 March 1986 Cyprus Turkish Association
15 March 1986 International Fund for Animal Welfare
22 March 1986 Liberty High School Grenadier Band
30 March 1986 Full Gospel Youth Movement
31 March 1986 am Elim Pentecostal Church
31 March 1986 pm Linkopings Skolmusikar (Swedish Band)
5 April 1986 Eelam Solidarity Campaign
6 April 1986 SOGAT
19 April 1986 Black Horse and Standard Morris Dancers
20 April 1986 Revolutionary Communist Party
10 May 1986 Westminster Morris Men
17 May 1986 Human Rights in Iraq
18 May 1986 Methodist Association of Youth Clubs
24 May 1986 Garston Church
26 May 1986 am Scripture Text Carriers Association
26 May 1986 pm Terence Higgins Trust
1 June 1986 Steelband Association
7 June 1986 United Evangelistic Mobile Units
8 June 1986 Bengali New Year Festival
14 June 1986 The open Air Mission
15 June 1986 Enkopings Paradorkester (Swedish Band)
21 June 1986 Travelling Gospel Workers Mission & Society for Evangelising London
5 July 1986 Trafalgar Square Evangelistic Rallies
12 July 1986 London City Mission
19 July 1986 London Entertains
20 July 1986 Essex International Arts Festival
26 July 1986 Asian Christian Church
27 July 1986 Universal Pentecostal Church
2 August 1986 Organisation of Human Rights in Iraq
9 August 1986 Youth with a Mission
10 August 1986 Tell a Tourist
31 August 1986 Polish Solidarity Campaign
6 September 1986 Concert World Bomhus Band (Swedish Band)
7 September 1986 Speakeasy (Musical entertainment)
13 September 1986 East Saxon Sword (Morris Men)
14 September 1986 Havering Girl Pipers
20 September 1986 United Evangelistic Mobile Units
27 September 1986 The Society for Evangelising London
5 October 1986 Metropolitan Templar Federation
Date Events
11 October 1986 The Scripture Text Carriers Association
18 October 1986 Labour Party Young Socialists
19 October 1986 Sea Cadet Association
25 October 1986 Lynx
2 November 1986 Jarrow 86
9 November 1986 Anti-Fascist Action
16 November 1986 Festival of Prophet's Birthday
10 January 1987 Tamil Eelam Support Committee
24 January 1987 Student Organisation of London Tamils
In addition applications for use of the Square up to 30 April 1987 have been decided as follows:—
21 February 1987 National Union of Students Refused
14 March 1987 City of London Anti-Apartheid Group Refused
15 March 1987 Internation Fund for Animal Welfare Given
11 April 1987 United Evangelistic Mobile Units Given

Permission for large meetings is currently being refused on public safety grounds while Nelson's column is being cleaned.

Work on major refurbishment of the square is expected to begin this summer and to last for at least two years. During that time no meetings of any kind will be allowed at the square except for the traditional events before Christmas and on new year's eve.