§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that theatrical entertainments are given at the Recreation Rooms, Woolwich, under the management of Major Jocelyn, R.A., to which a charge for admission is made, as much as £50 being taken on one night; that the bulk of the audience are civilians. who pay for admission, whilst applications from Non-commissioned Officers and men to their Commanding Officers for passes to admit their male friends have been refused, such refusal having been confirmed on appeal by the General Officer Commanding; whether these entertainments are subject to the Queen's Regulations, 1889, Part II., Section XV., Paragraph 75, which runs as follows:—
''No money wil be taken for admission to such entertainments, and Non-commissioned Officers and men should be permitted to invite their male friends thereto;and, if so, whether he will give instructions that this Regulation shall be strictly complied with?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. BRODRICK, Surrey, Guildford)The facts are as stated in the question, with the exception that the theatre at Woolwich is quite distinct from the Recreation Rooms. When the Regulation quoted by the hon. Member was drafted it was illegal to take money in a regimental theatre if unlicensed. By the Army Annual Act of 1889 the disability was removed, and the Regulations in question should have 1287 been altered to accord with the Act of Parliament. The Regulations will be amended forthwith.