asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the importance of accurate police evidence in the scientific investigation of road accidents, the training given on this subject to the cadets at the Metropolitan Police College is more detailed than that given to ordinary police constables; and whether it includes a practical study of road surfaces, lighting systems here and abroad, and other safety measures?

The course of training at the college covers all these points. During that course there is more opportunity to go fully into such matters than in the much shorter course at the training school for constables.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that several trade union and some co-operative organisations joined with the Independent Labour party and the Communist party to organise a demonstration against the meeting held in the City Hall, Sheffield, on Thursday, 28th June, and addressed b. Sir Oswald Mosley; and, as the trade unions and co-operative organisations in question are affiliated to or connected with the Labour party, whether he represented to the deputation of the General Council of the Trades Union Congress and National Executive of the Labour party which he received on Tuesday, 26th June, that members of the Labour party and trade unions should not participate in the creation of disorder?

I took the occasion, when I recently received a deputation from the National Joint Council, representing the Trades Union Congress, the Labour party, and the Parliamentary Labour party, of stating emphatically that the Government are determined not to tolerate the creation of disorder from any quarter. The deputation assured me that for their part they equally deplored and discouraged unruliness and disorder at meetings.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received a report from the Chief Constable of Sheffield in connection with the Fascist meeting held at Sheffield on Thursday night last; the number of police on duty at the hall and the number of members of the British Union of Fascists that were brought to Sheffield from outside areas; whether the police were invited inside the hall; whether the ambulance corps was a unit of the British Union of Fascists or the Sheffield unit of the St. John Ambulance Corps; the number of persons arrested and how many were injured; and if the major part of the meeting was orderly, and, if there was a disturbance, at what part of the meeting it took place, and what was the cause?

Yes, Sir; I have obtained a report from the Chief Constable of Sheffield regarding the Fascist meeting held in the City Hall on 28th June. Under the terms of the contract for the letting of the hall made between the City Corporation and the Fascists, the police were given full right of access inside the hall for the purpose of preserving order. In pursuance of this arrangement, a body of about 100 police were on duty inside the hall. The meeting was attended by about 2,500 persons and the Chief Constable informs me that there was no disorder inside the meeting apart from certain verbal interruptions. Four persons were ejected from the hall on account of persistent interruption, and these were escorted from the hall by police officers at the request of Fascist stewards who had previously requested the interrupters to desist. It is estimated that about 300 Fascist stewards were present in uniform, and these were engaged in showing the audience to their seats and in selling Fascist literature. Fascists attended the meeting from Liverpool, Leeds, Huddersfield, Leicester, Bradford and York, and from various small towns in the West Riding. A counter demonstration was held outside the hall in the place usually reserved for meetings at the west side of the City Hall. A body of about 75 foot police and nine mounted constables were employed in maintaining order and in marshalling the crowd, estimated at about 10,000, which congregated in the streets around the hall. The crowd was tactfully handled by the police and good order was maintained. Six persons were arrested in the streets adjoining the hall, four of whom were charged with assaults on the police, one with wilful damage, and one with drunkenness and disorderly conduct. No member of the public was assaulted or injured during the course of the meeting. In accordance with the usual practice, 10 members of the Sheffield St. John Ambulance unit attended the meeting, but the police are not aware whether any member of the ambulance corps of the British Union of Fascists was present.

asked the Home Secretary how many cases of poisoning of dogs and other animals, respectively, were reported to the police during the 12 months prior to the latest available date?

I regret that the information asked for is not available.