HC Deb 15 April 1988 vol 131 cc254-5W
Mr. Tebbit

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many weekends during(a) January, (b) February and (c) March, public access to roads in central London was restricted in order to allow demonstrations to take place; in each case to which roads access was impaired and for what period; and whether he expects such restrictions to increase during the summer months.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that, in relation to larger demonstrations, he issued directions enabling constables to stop or to divert vehicular and pedestrian traffic in central London on two weekends in each of January and February and on one weekend in March (when two separate directions were made). I have placed copies of the directions in the Library which give their duration and which show the roads affected. The number of directions issued during the summer is expected to decrease.