§ MR. JAMES STUART (Shoreditch, Hoxton)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether his attention has been called to the following paragraph in The Daily News of 16th May:—
We understand that although the Government have obtained a grant of £17,000 for the fitting up of Westminster Abbey, the War Office Authorities have stopped the orders which had been given for a display of fireworks in the London Parks on the night of the Jubilee Celebration. Steps had been taken to provide such an entertainment for the public in Hyde, Regent's, Battersea, and Victoria Parks;whether it is true that the War Office Authorities had given orders to certain pyrotechnists for a display of fireworks to take place on the night of the Jubilee Celebration in Hyde, Regent's, Batter-sea, and Victoria Parks; to whom such orders were given; what were their pecuniary amounts; what was the reason for countermanding them; in what manner, whether by letter or otherwise, they were countermanded; and, what reasons for countermanding them have been assigned to the persons entrusted with the orders?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)Certain firms were consulted by the War Office relative to a display of fireworks in the Parks named, and were told to submit a programme. This step was taken in consequence of the near approach of the Jubilee, and the probable large demand for fireworks. Her Majesty's Government, however, having decided that there should be no display of fireworks in these Parks, these firms were informed by telegraph of that decision.