HC Deb 08 August 1940 vol 364 cc446-7W
Mr. Lyons

asked the Secretary of State for War, in whose names are Entertainments National Service Association accounts kept, and by whom is any expenditure, otherwise than for artistes' actual services, incurred or authorised in respect of administrative positions or other organising posts?

Mr. Law

If my hon. and learned Friend will refer to the answers which were given to him on 30th July and 6th August, he will see that the Entertainments National Service Association has no funds, and, therefore, no accounts, and that the entertainments given to the troops are organised by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, who provide and pay staff for the purpose.

Mr. Lyons

asked the Secretary of State for War what positions have been, or are, held by Sir Seymour Hicks and Mr. Basil Dean, respectively, in connection with the Entertainments National Service Association; whether these positions are honorary; and, if not, what are the salaries and emoluments paid, and upon what fund are they charged?

Mr. Eden

The positions held by Sir Seymour Hicks and Mr. Basil Dean in connection with the Entertainments National Service Association are respectively those of controller and executive director; both positions are honorary. Mr. Basil Dean is also Director of Entertainments on the staff of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, and Sir Seymour Hicks receives from the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes an allowance for expenses in connection with work which he carries out on their behalf. As I explained in the answer to my hon. and learned Friend on Tuesday last, that body is not called upon to furnish details of payments made to their staff.