asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) the number of prosecutions of persons accused of creating disorder at meetings of the British Union of Fascists during the last 12 months; and if he will state their names;

(2) the number of prosecutions of members of the British Union of Fascists accused of creating disorder at public meetings during the last 12 months?

asked the Home Secretary the number of prosecutions and the names of members of the British Union of Fascists accused of creating disorder at public meetings during the last 12 months?

The UNDER-Secretary of State for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Captain Crookshank):

My right hon. Friend regrets that the information asked for is not available for the country as a whole and it is only possible to give particulars in respect of the Metropolitan Police District. My right hon. Friend is informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that, during the last 12 months, 69 persons, of whom 16 are known to be members of the British Union of Fascists, have been prosecuted on charges of creating disorder at public meetings in the Metropolitan Police District. As rival meetings are often held in close proximity and as some of the persons prosecuted were prosecuted for creating disorder at their own meetings, it would give a misleading impression to classify the persons prosecuted in the manner suggested in the questions. My right hon. Friend does not think that any useful purpose would be served by publishing the names of the persons prosecuted.

Is it not a fact that 90 per cent. of those accused of attacking Fascists rejoice in such fine old British names such as Ziff, Kerstein and Minsky?

Were some of them called Feigenbaum, Goldstein and Rigotsky and other like good old Highland names?

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received a report from the chief constable of Luton in connection with the British Union of Fascists' meeting that was held on Wednesday evening at which a young man, 20 years of age, was picked up unconscious after the disturbance was over and- subsequently died; whether an inquest has been held and, if so, what was the verdict?

Captain CROOKSHANK:

Yes, Sir. I have received a report from the chief constable, and I understand that the inquest, which was opened on the 20th instant, has been adjourned until tomorrow.