asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to require newspapers to publish the details of payments made in obtaining the exclusive confessions or autobiographies of convicted criminals or of their accomplices or associates.

In the light of the Press Council's declared policy on this matter, I do not think there is a sufficient case for legislation.

Does my right hon. Friend not think it disgraceful that the wages of sin should get an overtime bonus from our free Press? Would he not consider taking steps to remove the sort of unsavoury competition which underlies the present squabble going on between the People and the News of the World about Mrs. Wilson's memoirs?

Without going into any opinions about the particular struggle, perhaps I might repeat that the Press Council has made a declaration which stated, among other things, that no payment should be made for feature articles to persons engaged in crime or other notorious misbehaviour where the public interest does not warrant it, and that it deplores publication of personal articles of an unsavoury nature by persons who have been concerned in criminal acts or vicious conduct. That seems to be a perfectly good statement of principle which should be lived up to.

Can the Home Secretary say whether the Press Council has put its mind to the publication of articles and payments to self-confessed traitors whose articles have been published in the Sunday Press, because the practice is very unsavoury to many people?

I do not know what matters are currently before the Press Council but, if any complaints have been submitted to it, I am sure that it will make a report on them in due course.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that it is one of the unfortunate facts of life that there is a bigger readership for the memoirs of the wives of train robbers than, say, for the reminiscences of an ex-Foreign Secretary—

Order. Briefly. No speech.

Would my right hon. Friend none the less not agree that it is about time that the Press Council drew up a much tighter code of ethics for newspapers to observe?

I was not aware that the right hon. and learned Member for Wirral (Mr. Selwyn Lloyd) had been approached for his memoirs, but, assuming that he is, I am sure that he will get a good market price for them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of prisoners in each of Her Majesty's Prisons who have applied for and been successful in obtaining release on parole under the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were eligible for consideration for parole before 1st April; how many he referred to the Parole Board; what their recommendations were; and how many prisoners are being released.

As the Answer contains a number of figures, I will with permission arrange for it to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT, with the exception of figures for individual prisons which I shall supply later. Up to date 350 prisoners in England and Wales have been recommended for release by the Parole Board, and a further 16 cases are under consideration.

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. In view of reports of widespread despair among prisoners about the number of them granted release on licence, would he confirm that the numbers that he has announced correspond broadly to those anticipated by the Criminal Justice Act? Further, can he confirm that prisoners so far unsuccessful are not excluded from consideration at future reviews.

I have looked at the debates on the Criminal Justice Bill, and I do not think that any firm estimate was given, although some figures were used as illustrations. I can confirm that of those who have not been recommended for parole this time, as my hon. Friend will see when he reads the information which is to appear in HANSARD, a number will be considered for a further review before expiration of the normal interval of one year.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what proportion of those prisoners who are being released on parole are in the final three months of their prison sentences?

No, I am afraid that I cannot.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why M. Yves Choliere, Secretary of the World Council for Peace, has twice been refused admission to this country.

Because his admission could not be regarded as in the national interest. It remains open to him to apply for admission on a future occasion and any application will be considered on its merits in the light of all the relevant circumstances.

Will my hon. Friend look at this again? Is he aware that Mr. Choliere has not been refused entry to any other of the many countries in which he has travelled? Will my hon. Friend give an assurance that a third application will be looked at without prejudice and not be decided by the fact that two applications have already been refused?

I have already told my hon. Friend that I will certianly consider any application on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on advertising to encourage police recruitment in 1967; and how much he estimates will be spent in 1968.

Excluding sums spent locally by police authorities, £235,113 has been spent during the present financial year in England and Wales. I am in touch with the local authority associations about the level of expenditure next year, but no decision has yet been made.

Does the Secretary of State agree that this money has largely been wasted because of the foolhardy decision to limit police recruitment during the year? Will he assure potential police recruits, those who have been turned away this year, that they will be given places in 1969?

I think that the hon. Gentleman misunderstands the difference between recruitment and an increase in establishment. In fact, according to my calculations, well over 6,000 recruits will be needed during the course of the current year to make up for wastage and for resignations of one sort or another. This will also include a number to add to the strength of the force. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will correct any misapprehension to the effect that recruits are not needed. There is a limitation put on the increase in strength that forces are able to take on during the current financial stringency, but I hope that that position will be reviewed in the next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Kenyan Asians have applied to his Department for entry into the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many Asians in Kenya who hold British passports and have no other citizenship have applied for permission to settle in the United Kingdom during March; how many have been granted such permission; and what measures will be taken to increase the official quota of such British subjects in the light of the number of vouchers not taken up by immigrants from other sources;

(2) what arrangements have been made to deal with the large number of Asians in Kenya holding British passports and with no other nationality who will seek to enter the United Kingdom irrespective of their eligibility for the official quota.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for special vouchers have been received to date from United Kingdom passport holders since the arrival of the two man Commission in East Africa.

Up to 26th March, 162 applications had been made in Kenya for vouchers from the special allocation. These are being considered by the High Commissioner, and the first issue of vouchers will take place at the end of this month.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are approximately 25,000 unskilled vacancies in Britain and that many Kenyan Asians would settle in Britain, fill these vacancies, and make a valuable contribution to our economy and our export trade?

That seems to be reviving our recent debates. These applications are within the limits of tolerance which were expected by me, although not, I think, by many other hon. Members, when we laid down this quota.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what preparations he is making, in the interests of public order, for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament demonstration in Trafalgar Square over Eastertide.

This is a matter for the Acting Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. He tells me that discussions have been held with the organisers of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament on the arrangements to be made for the meeting in Trafalgar Square and he will have regard to recent experience in formulating his plans.

Without in any way wishing to goad the Home Secretary into taking extreme measures such as departing from traditional democratic rights to demonstrate, protest against, and criticise Governments, may I ask whether it would not be preferable if such demonstrations were held in a central part of Hyde Park so as to lessen the damage to property and the risk to people?

Trafalgar Square is the traditional meeting place. Demonstrations have been held there from time immemorial, before the hon. Gentleman and I were alive, and I dare say they will be held there long after we have gone. I do not want to be put into the position, because of unruly behaviour on one or two occasions, of taking steps to undermine our traditions in this matter.

Is it not a fact that in all the previous C.N.D. demonstrations at Easter there has been no damage to property or to people? Is it not somewhat ironic that, although we welcome demonstrations in Eastern Europe, there are some silly Tory Members here who try to prevent demonstrations from being held in Britain?

The C.N.D. demonstrations have, to my recollection, been orderly and effective protests.

Has the Secretary of State's attention been drawn to Early Day Motion No. 214, which is supported by hon. Members of all parties and which calls for a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the recent demonstrations so as to ascertain the special difficulties of crowd control and to recommend procedures to be adopted in future? Would not this be a valuable thing now?

I read that Early Day Motion and I have had discussions with the police. I do not think that we can debate the Motion. I do not think that the situation is by any means out of hand, nor do I think that the police think so. I would prefer that the Commissioner should continue to handle these problems in his own way, and I shall continue to work with him in ensuring that we keep effective control but do not do more than that.

The right hon. Gentleman's generally liberal and enlightened attitude will be welcomed in all quar- ters of the House. Will he draw to the attention of the hon. Member for Croydon, South (Mr. Winnick) the fact that silliness is not the monopoly of either side?

Try proving it.

I am aware that there is a third party in the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to require the registration of agencies engaged in industrial and commercial espionage.

I do not think there is a need to do so at present.

In view of the recent disclosures in the Sunday Mirror, does not my hon. and learned Friend think that, in view of the possibilities and developments here, it is about time we got round to controlling the activities of this form of private enterprise?

There are many questions and problems in connection with this. We must first be satisfied that there is a serious problem of invasion of privacy. At the moment we are not so satisfied. If the question of intrusion into private affairs arises, obviously very serious problems affecting the liberty of the Press, and so on, will be involved. I am not saying that this matter does not require study, but it certainly does not require hasty decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to ensure that where possible both parents of a juvenile appearing in court are present at the proceedings.

The law in England and Wales already provides that any parent of a juvenile who is brought before a court may be required to attend during all stages of the proceedings, and shall be so required at any stage where the court thinks it desirable unless the court is satisfied that this would be unreasonable.

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that it is reported that in certain areas this matter is not being pressed as it should be, to the detriment of children coming before the courts? Will he look at the question again?

If my hon. Friend has examples, we would certainly get in touch with the courts concerned, but it must be a decision for the courts. A general rule cannot be laid down. For example, there may be cases where the parents are separated and where it would be wrong for both parents to be required to be present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when, having regard to the contribution to national productivity that can be made by self-service petrol stations, he will publish the Model Code for attended and unattended petrol stations for the guidance of local authorities.

Guidance on the precautions necessary at self-service petrol filling stations will be included in a revised version of the Home Office Model Code to be published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in about three months time. Meanwhile, any local authority requiring advice can obtain it from the Home Office.

Will the hon. Gentleman put pressure on in this matter? I have been asking Questions on this matter for nearly two years. We are years behind West Germany, which has 6,000 self-service petrol stations. The Model Code should be distributed immediately.

The hon. Gentleman does not need to enjoin me to put pressure on. The advice is now ready. The only reason why there was a delay in circulating the Model Code is that we wanted to include comprehensive advice on the question of self-filling stations. It is now a matter of printing, and it will be distributed very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the subterranean regional seats of government have been closed down with the disbandment of Civil Defence.

Buildings already provided for the civil defence control system are physical assets of operational value and are being preserved.

What is the care and maintenance strength of the staff at these underground bases? What is their full operational manpower strength? What is the cost of keeping this network in being?

I would certainly need notice to enable me to answer those detailed supplementary questions. If my hon. Friend cares to write to me, I will give him full answers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he will now take to ensure that blood tests carried out on drivers suspected of having an excess of alcohol in the blood are reliable and accurate; and if he will order an inquiry.

I am satisfied that the procedures at the forensic science laboratories for the determination of blood alcohol levels are reliable and accurate.

I thank the hon. and learned Gentleman for that reply. Now that the procedure has been altered, will he publish it and distribute it to police stations so that motorists know their position?

I think that the procedure which is followed on the test is well known and is public. I am not sure what the hon. Gentleman has in mind with regard to the procedure at the forensic laboratories. I am sure that he has not in mind a detailed description of the gas chromatography method.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to make illegal the invasion of privacy by individuals and agencies which use long range cameras and television equipment to penetrate private offices and homes.

On my present information I am not persuaded that there is an urgent need for legislation but my right hon. Friend is keeping this problem under review.

While appreciating the reason for that reply, and the reply to my Question No. 9, may I ask my hon. and learned Friend whether he is aware that it is possible, by the use of modern equipment, to keep a constant watch inside people's homes and offices, and even to read documents if necessary? Is it not time that we had a new law to define the areas of personal privacy?

As I said before, this is a difficult question, because it depends on the kind of law that one wants. There could be a law to deal with privacy or a law to deal with certain kinds of equipment, and we would have to decide whether to pass criminal laws, or laws to give civil rights of the kind which my hon. Friend the Member for York (Mr. Alexander W. Lyon) put forward.

Is it not a fact that a seminar was held recently at one of the Oxford colleges at the instance of the Lord Chancellor about the right of privacy and associated questions? In view of the widespread interest in this subject, when can we expect a Government announcement on its results?

I cannot say when we can expect an announcement about it. It is a complicated question, which involves the freedom of the Press as well. At the moment there is no great evidence of abuse. For example, if one considers complaints to the Press Council about intrusions of privacy in this fashion, one sees that the complaints amount to 0·01 per cent. of the total complaints.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there has been concern in this country for the last 30 years about this question, that the Americans have been developing a law of privacy for well over 60 years, that the Germans have a law about privacy, and that, as a result of the Nordic Conference, there is a real danger that we shall be left behind by all other civilised nations in promoting a law on this subject?

I agree with my hon. Friend that this is an important question, and that one must keep it under review, but I cannot at the moment promise any legislation on it. I think that my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council has told my hon. Friend that he looks favourably on the idea of a Select Committee examining this problem.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps the police take in the Metropolitan Area when burglar alarms go off accidentally;

(2) what estimate he has made of the number of burglar alarms which have gone off accidentally during the last two months in the Metropolitan Police area.

The Metropolitan Police answer all burglar alarm calls from instruments connected to the information room at New Scotland Yard except calls generated by instruments that have persistently given false alarms and have not, despite full warning, been put right.

Last January and February, the Metropolitan Police answered 10,487 burglar alarm calls which were found to be false; but genuine calls during the same period led to the immediate arrest of 39 persons at 21 premises.

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that in the Streatham district in particular, to put it in Parliamentary terms, people have been submitted to all-night sittings because of burglar alarms going off falsely? Is he not perturbed about the figures which he has given? Do they not show that the whole burglar alarm system must be very suspect indeed?

My hon. Friend has a point. It is a well-known feature of burglar alarms that at the moment there is no way of ensuring that the majority of these calls are genuine. There are many reasons why a burglar alarm can go off wrongly. The system which is followed at the moment is that if six false calls are received from an installation, the alarm company and the Association of Burglary Insurance Surveyors are warned, and also warned that if there are further false alarms the calls will not be answered. I agree that this is a problem.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the 15 prisons in England and Wales at which dogs have been introduced: and how many additional prison officers are being trained as dog-handlers.

I will with permission circulate a list in the OFFICIAL REPORT. A total of 190 officers are to be trained as dog-handlers.

Would not my hon. and learned Friend agree, however, that this could interfere with the delicate relationship which exists between inmates and prison officers in the work of rehabilitation? Would not he agree that it would be far better to reply on electronic and mechanical devices to maintain security in prisons, rather than to introduce fierce dogs?

It obviously would interfere with the relationship if dogs were in any way involved in the day-to-day control of prisoners, but this is not so. Under the present system, a prisoner will come up against a dog only if he is attempting to escape. The use of dogs enables fewer staff to be employed on custodial duties, and this means that more staff are free for other work, and can, therefore, decidate themselves to improving relations with the prisoners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of cases to the latest convenient date in which drivers have been required to provide a specimen of breath under the Road Safety Act, 1967; and in how many of these cases action was taken because the driver was suspected of having alcohol in his body, because the driver was suspected of having committed a traffic offence, and because an accident had occurred, respectively.

Up to 31st January, the total number of breath tests required in England and Wales was 13,029. Of these, 4,352 were on suspicion of alcohol in the body; 4,128 on suspicion that the driver had committed a moving traffic offence; and 4,549 after accidents.

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware of the widespread belief that a number of these tests are random tests? Will he give an assurance that no such tests are, in fact, taking place?

We are fully satisfied that the police are administering this Act in accordance with the law. It was always made clear to the House that in moving traffic offences there was a random element, but every allegation of improper random testing, when investigated, has been shown to be unsubstantiated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he now proposes to take to provide an appeal procedure for members of the teaching profession dismissed from approved schools.

I am not yet in a position to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member's similar Question on 15th February.—[Vol. 758, c. 389.]

Will the right hon. Gentleman go on record as saying that since teachers in approved schools have extremely onerous tasks placed on them by the nature of their employment, the least that should be done is to give them equality of tenure with other members of the teaching profession?

I have been brought up on systems in which there was always proper disciplinary machinery and the proper method of appeal for staff. It is, therefore, my anxiety that similar conditions should be introduced in the approved schools. Until I can get legislation for this purpose, I have set up a system, which I shall not describe to the House in detail now, about which I think there is considerable satisfaction in the approved school service as a temporary and ad hoc method of improving the methods of appeal for them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give an assurance that the making of a personal apology by the Deputy Commissioner of Police to Lady Diana Cooper on 23rd February will not be made a general practice in similar cases in the future.

I hope that there will be no similar cases in the future.

Would my hon. and learned Friend agree that such treatment would not be given in the case of a less exalted person? Secondly, would not he suggest that the Assistant Commissioner might have a better use for his time?

My hon. Friend is in a sense suggesting that special favour was shown to a member of the aristocracy, whereas it is true that the police acted in a particularly unjustified manner against a member of the aristocracy because they did not follow their normal procedure of checking information before applying for a search warrant. Since an. abnormally irregular procedure was followed, I think that an abnormal apology was justified.

Will the hon. and learned Gentleman give an assurance that when the police make an unjustifiable mistake of this kind they will always apologise, whoever it may be?

Even in cases where the police have every justification for asking for a search warrant, when they find that they have made a mistake, and nothing is found on the premises, they apologise.

My hon. and learned Friend may say that preferential treatment was not shown in this case, but is it not a fact that at least six or seven similar cases have been reported during the last six or seven months, and that in not one instance, other than that involving this noble Lady, did the Deputy-Commissioner go along and apologise?

My hon. Friend is wrong. We debated this on an Adjournment debate, and I showed that in the case my hon. Friend had in mind there was no lack of justification for the issue of a warrant. It was justified, even though in certain cases nothing was found on the premises, and even there an apology was made.

Is it not a case of noblesse oblige?

The hon. Gentleman can put it very eloquently in French.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on implementing the Mountbatten Report on Prisons.

A good deal of progress has been made. All prisoners are now given a security classification; the security of prisons in which Category A and B prisoners are held has been strengthened; liaison with the police has been improved; the number of prison staff recruited has risen substantially and officers are now being selected for the new grade of senior prison officer. The rate of the escapes from closed prisons is now lower.

Has the right hon. Gentleman abandoned the project for a maximum security prison in the Isle of Wight, as has been reported to have been recommended by the Radzinowicz Committee? To borrow a phrase from my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for St. Marylebone (Mr. Hogg), is it the intention no longer to put all the bad eggs in one basket, but to distribute them around several areas?

Order. Questions would be briefer without borrowed phrases.

The plans for the maximum security prison have been deferred but I propose to look at them again in the light of the Report from the Advisory Committee on the Penal System which will be published next week. I will then reach a conclusion and inform the House.

Can my right hon. Friend assure us that all those prisons which have received special security equipment, like closed circuit television, are using it?

To the best of my knowledge. I have seen closed circuit television in use in at least one prison, where, I think, it is extremely effective.

Would the right hon. Gentleman recognise that, despite the conflicting advice which I understand he has now received about the treatment of maximum security prisoners this is one of the cruxes of the matter? Will he assure us that he will not allow the difficulty of reaching a decision to delay it beyond the earliest possible moment?

There will be no need to delay a decision on this matter, which can be reached fairly quickly, but, in deference to those whom I asked to advise me, I think that I should give proper consideration to it and allow some time for public opinion to express itself, following the publication of the Report. I should like to be guided by the views of hon. Members and others who are interested in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with police authorities about sharing the extra cost of controlling student demonstrations which falls on the police in university towns.

None, Sir.

Does the hon. and learned Gentleman think it fair that the considerable expense of trying to control these demonstrations should be largely borne by local ratepayers, when local residents are rarely involved?

This problem is part of the general duties of the police and most police forces are faced from time to time with tasks which make special demands on them. There can be no question of making special financial provision for such eventualities, since it would be quite wrong to take out one special kind of problem and treat it differently from others.

Nevertheless, would the hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind that, if a football club wishes to have extra police because of a situation of potential crowding or violence, it has to pay for it?

This is so, not if they want extra police but if they want any police: this is done by contractual arrangement and is quite a different matter.

Is it not a fact that the amount of time devoted by police in university cities to this kind of operation is a tiny proportion of their total activity?

My hon. Friend is quite correct.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases has a jury returned a majority verdict in England and Wales under the powers conferred by the Criminal Justice Act, 1967.

Provisional figures are available for the period 1st October to 31st December, 1967. These show that majority verdicts of guilty were returned in 116 cases, involving 228 counts and 134 persons. In accordance with the provisions of the Act, a jury is not asked whether a verdict of not guilty was a majority one.

Does this not appear to justify the view expressed by some of us when the Bill was going through that this would be a modest little reform of the law, which would make a valuable contribution but only in a very restricted number of cases?

It certainly affects a restricted number of cases, but whether it is a modest or a major reform is very much a subjective judgment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, in the present economic situation, he proposes in the Miscellaneous Fees (Variation) Order, 1968 to increase the Riding Establishment Licence Fee by 1900 per cent.

The revised fee of £10 takes account of the expense borne by the local authority in obtaining the veterinary report required before the grant of a licence. The previous fee was quite unrealistic.

Is it not a fact that most of these institutions teach small children to ride ponies, a harmless and pleasing occupation? Is it really reasonable to impose a price increase of such a fantastic kind, which sets an outrageous example when other members of the Government are trying to keep prices down.

Nor would it be reasonable that a local authority and its ratepayers should bear the burden. The previous fee was only 10s. and, since the local authority must pay the cost of having a veterinary report, the average cost of which is often up to £8 or more, it is quite unreasonable that it should fall on the backs of the ratepayers.

Why pester these people with licences at all?

The Act was passed by the previous Administration, although I know that the hon. Member was not here then.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of circumstances surrounding the dispute between Mr. J. D. Caldwell of Weymouth and the Sussex Police and the statement made by police officers to Mr. Caldwell's lawyers, particulars of which have been sent to him, he will authorise the payment to Mr. Caldwell of appropriate compensation.

Any question of compensation is a matter for the Sussex Police Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what authority the governor of Brixton Prison held Robert Grice and John Garvey in custody for more than four months.

By the authority of warrants issued periodically from 7th September, 1967, onwards by the Thames and Marylebone Magistrates' Courts. After several unsuccessful applications for bail, the two men were allowed bail on 8th December by the Central Criminal Court, provided that each obtained satisfactory sureties. These conditions were not fulfilled until 2nd February, 1968, in the case of Grice and 22nd February, 1968, in the case of Garvey.

Is it not wrong that poor prisoners should be denied both bail and legal aid when wealthy villains can get away with it?

This is a general proposition with which I find it difficult to deal. Bail and legal aid are entirely matters for the court. These individuals, like many others, were badly hit by the delay which unfortunately exists in bringing cases to trial.

Will my hon. and learned Friend make it clear that the Governor of Brixton Prison is not to be held blameworthy in this or similar cases? Is he aware that, Brixton being a remand prison, the length of time that a person is on remand is entirely without the control of the Governor himself?

I am glad that my hon. Friend has enabled me to make that clear. It was entirely a question of whether these men could find the sureties asked for by the courts, and over this the Governor of Brixton Prison would have no control.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds were 1,479 negatives seized on the premises of Jean Straker, 12 Soho Square, London, W.1; what charges were preferred against him, under what Statute; and whether, in the light of the court's decision in this case, he will now seek to amend the Obscene Publications Act.

Some 2,000 negatives were seized last June at these premises under a magistrate's warrant issued under the Obscene Publications Acts. Mr. Straker was subsequently charged in respect of some 700 of these negatives under Section 2 of the Obscene Publications Act, 1959, as amended by Section 1 of the 1964 Act. I have no proposals for amending the Obscene Publications Acts.

Why not? Is my hon. and learned Friend not aware that, throughout the West End, obscene pictures are widely on sale, yet it is an artist who is prosecuted?

The question of whether he was justifiably prosecuted is not one for me. He had an opportunity of trial by jury, which he did not accept, and he put forward a defence of public good. It was a matter for the court to decide this and is not a matter on which I could judge.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual cost of maintaining the 14,000 personnel of the Auxiliary Fire Service in England, Scotland and Wales.

The cost would have been about £1·3 million in 1968–69, rising to about £1·5 million in 1970–71.

Since the members have now offered to give up all payment, whether of bounties, subsistence or expenses, including all travelling expenses, can the hon. Gentleman not respond in a suitable manner to this noble gesture and allow the Fire Service to continue?

My right hon. Friend and I have explained to the House a number of times that the bounty and expenses amount to only 8·5 per cent. of the total cost. Although one appreciates the generosity of those who have said that they would be prepared to forgo them, they would make very little difference to the savings which we are required to make.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report of the Holroyd Committee on the Fire Service.

The Committee is still taking evidence, and my right hon. Friend does not expect to receive its report before next year.

But surely my hon. Friend is aware of the frightening in- crease in the losses by fire in this country? In view of the urgency of these proposals now, particularly the more effective and widespread measures for fire prevention, can he not hurry this matter up in any way?

It was because of the urgency of the rising cost of damage by fires that my right hon. Friend decided to establish this extremely important survey. It is the first study of its kind for over 30 years, and when it was established last year, it was recognised that, with all the evidence which had to be taken and all the considerations which had to be given, there could not possibly be an answer before next year. It is a very important survey.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Working Party on Habitual Drunken Offenders to make a report.

I understand that the working party, which is meeting every two weeks, hopes to complete taking evidence by the end of May. It is too early to say when it will be able to present its report.

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that that is the sort of answer that we have been receiving for years, that the solution to this very great problem may depend on the outcome of this working party and that as long as there is procrastination the problem will never be solved?

I am aware of my hon. Friend's interest in this matter. I heard of it at the school which I was addressing yesterday. The working party must digest a great deal of evidence from voluntary services, medical authorities, professional bodies and all those concerned with alcoholics. I cannot add anything further, except to say that the working party will receive evidence in May and that it has been working very hard.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken to provide hostels for methylated spirit drinkers, especially within the area of Greater London.

My right hon. Friend's responsibility is for discharged offenders. Five hostels in Greater London and two in the provinces, providing a total of 71 places for habitual drunken offenders, are in receipt of Home Office grant. They all accept crude spirit drinkers. I know of two other hostels in Greater London and two in the provinces, offering 49 places, which accept offenders who are crude spirit drinkers.

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that he accentuates the fact that they accept crude spirit drinkers—not that they actually accept them or deal with the problem? Is he also aware that an official of his Department met my local authority and promised speedy action but that my local authority is becoming disillusioned about this prospect?

I take note of what my hon. Friend says.

Is there any risk that the high rate of duty on whisky and other spirits drives people increasingly to drinking methylated spirit?

I should not like to say what the transition process is in these cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, in view of the fact that parking restrictions are not applicable in the London area on Bank Holidays, the police and traffic wardens gave notice of intention of summons to a number of motorists who parked their cars in restricted areas on the statutory declared Bank Holidays of Friday, 15th March and Saturday, 16th March; and whether he will make a statement.

It would not be proper for me to comment; it is for the chief officer of police concerned to decide whether to bring proceedings and for the courts to settle any question of law that arises.

With respect to my hon. and learned Friend, that is dodging the issue. Is it not a fact that these were declared statutory Bank Holidays and that people thought, quite legitimately, that on Bank Holidays they were permitted to park in these spots, as they did, without being charged and fined? Will he issue an instruction for these notices to be withdrawn, these days having been declared Bank Holidays?

I assure my hon. Friend that I am not dodging the issue. This is not a matter for me. First, it is not for us to act in place of the courts, and, secondly, it is not for us to give instructions to the police about when to prosecute.

On a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreigners were permitted entry into this country for the admitted reason of taking part in the demonstration in Trafalgar Square and Grosvenor Square on Sunday, 17th March; and how many of them have now been deported.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deportations have taken place as a result of proceedings arising out of the pro-Vietcong demonstrations in Trafalgar Square and Grosvenor Square on 17th March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who took part in the demonstrations in Grosvenor Square on 17th March came from abroad; where they came from; and whether any deportations have taken place or are under consideration.

No separate record has been kept of any passengers who may on arrival have declared to an immigration officer their intention of taking part in this demonstration. None of those who did take part have been deported, but some cases are still before the courts and further proceedings may be instituted.

Despite our tradition of tolerance, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is resentment against foreigners coming here and creating a cockpit for demonstrations?

Yes, Sir. I think that that is a fair statement of the position. I am bound to say that it is very difficult to check what foreign students propose to do when they come here. For example, a large number of them came on an architectural tour, but I am not sure what sort of architecture they were proposing to study.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say about how many persons who are liable to deportation on conviction under the aliens or Commonwealth immigrants legislation have been prosecuted and convicted?

No, Sir. I cannot say how many have yet been prosecuted because the cases are still going on. In fact, the number of people who are known to have arrived for the purpose of this demonstration is surprisingly small, probably not much more than 100.

If bands of foreigners come here to join in these events, which should be British events only—[Interruption.]—and arm themselves with sticks and other weapons and are violent, would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that they should not object to the use of Continental methods such as having the hoses turned on them?

I would be reluctant to lower the tariff barriers to allow Continental methods to be introduced in this sphere. I am certain that we should—and I do not want to make too much of one demonstration of this sort, major, serious and bad though it was—for the time being continue to rely on our traditional methods.