§ MR. WOODALLasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been directed to the conflict of jurisdiction affecting places of public amusement under which the Metropolitan theatres and certain patent houses in the Provinces are compelled to close on Ash Wednesday, while the music halls on the Surrey side, and all theatres not subject to the jurisdiction of the Lord Chamberlain are free from such disability; and, whether the Government will endeavour to remedy the injustice whereby some thousands of people are thus denied the opportunity of earning their livelihood while all other trades and professions may be legally pursued?
§ MR. COURTNEYSir, I beg to state that the subject is engaging the attention of the Secretary of State. It is a somewhat complicated one, and he is not yet in a position to express an opinion upon it.