§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment which health and safety regulations applied in the continued use of heavy machinery with protesters still chained to it, trying to prevent the felling of the chestnut tree at George Green, Wanstead.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 15 December 1993]: Health and safety legislation is not generally intended to afford protection to protesters who seek to disrupt work activity through civil disorder.
I understand that the police attended the incident referred to and that they have a duty in common law to preserve the peace.