§ MR. HARVEY LEWISasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether, in consequence of the frequent recurrence of fires at theatres and other places of public amusement, it is his intention to introduce a measure rendering it obligatory that, in future, the plans for theatres and all other places of public amusement shall be submitted for approval to an architect, to be appointed for that purpose by the Government, whose especial duty it shall be to see that every possible provision shall be made against the danger of fire, and who should also see that proper and sufficient means of exit shall be provided in all such buildings?
§ SIR GEORGE GREYsaid, there was no intention at present to introduce a Bill requiring that the plans of theatres and all places of public resort—for it could not be confined merely to places of amusement—should be submitted to a Government architect before those places were built; but the subject to which the Question referred—namely, the construction of those buildings, so as to provide security against fire, and for the safety of the public in the event of fire—was one no doubt of great importance, and deserved careful consideration. As regarded theatres, it must be borne in mind that they were regulated by law. They must all be licensed—those in London by the Lord Chamberlain, and those in the country by justices of the peace. In the case of the London theatres, the Lord Chamberlain had established very stringent regulations within the last few years, which had effected great improvements in the construction of the buildings, and in providing egress in case of accidents; and, in the case of a new theatre, the Lord Chamberlain would refuse his licence unless the building should be constructed in such a manner as to provide every precaution against fire, and also adequate means of egress. Music halls and other places of the like kind in the metropolis were also licensed by the 137 justices, who might insist upon what the Lord Chamberlain required for theatres; and the same might be done by the justices as to theatres in the country.