HC Deb 01 December 1988 vol 142 cc395-7W
Mr. Livsey

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to(a) the number of police on duty at the time of and in connection with the lobby on student loans on 24 November and (b) the number of police vehicles utilised at the time of and in connection with the lobby;

(2) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the cost of the police operation on Thursday 24 November at the time of the student lobby of the House on student loans.

Mr. Hurd

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) on 29 November, at columns174–76.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to why mounted police charged into the groups of students assembled on the south side of Westminster bridge for the National Union of Students lobby of Parliament on 24 November; and who gave the order for this action;

(2) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to why the police completely closed Westminster bridge during the National Union of Students' lobby of Parliament on Thursday 24 November;

(3) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police as to who was in charge of the police operation dealing with the National Union of Students' lobby of Parliament on 24 November.

Mr. Hurd

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 28 November, at column 76, and the reply given to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) on 29 November, at columns174–76.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to why on Thursday 24 November constituents of various lion. Members in possession of letters from the House of Commons outlining arrangements to meet those Members were prevented by police from getting to Parliament;

(2) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to why police prevented hon. Members, who had previously arranged to meet constituents involved in the National Union of Students lobby of Parliament on Thursday 24 November from meeting those constituents outside the premises of the Palace of Westminster.

Mr. Hurd

I understand from the Commissioner chat arrangements were made with the organisers of the demonstration for students who wished to lobby Members of Parliament to follow a route to the House over Lambeth bridge. At various times throughout the afternoon NUS stewards and police officers encouraged lobbyists to use this route. The arrangements were used for orderly lobbying so far as was possible consistent with the duty on the police to ensure that the Sessional Order was not breached. By 6 pm the police had counted 494 students entering the Lobby. Many more were directed down Millbank but chose not to join the Lobby queue.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the policing of the National Union of Students lobby of Parliament on 24 November; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hurd

Other than those which have been made by hon. Members by way of questions, two letters from hon. Members and two letters from members of the public of which I am aware.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to whether police officers involved in dealing with the National Union of Students lobby of Parliament on Thursday 24 November were aware of which officer was in charge of the operation.

Mr. Hurd

Officers were aware of who was in charge of operations.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to how many(a) police vans, (b) police officers, (c) boats, (d) helicopters and (e) horses were deployed by the Commissioner of Police in responding to the demonstrations of students in and around Westminster on the afternoon of Thursday 24 November; and what was the cost to public funds of the operation.

Mr. Hurd

[pursuant to his reply, 28 November 1988, c. 75–76]: The additional cost of policing the demonstration was £27,462.