§ SIR ALGERNON BORTHWICK (Kensington, S.)said, he desired to put a Question to his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department, of which he had given him private Notice. It was to ask whether Her Majesty's Government would this Session introduce a short measure conferring power on Her Majesty in Council to issue orders for the regulation and inspection of theatres and other places of public amusement, such orders to be valid until a more comprehensive measure could be adopted by Parliament?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)I am afraid that at this period of the Session we could hardly undertake to pass a Bill, however short, upon this subject. Her Majesty's Government are, however, fully sensible of the great importance of the matter to which my hon. Friend's Question relates; and I think I can undertake, on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, that we will, at the earliest possible opportunity, offer practical suggestions to any theatrical manager who chooses to avail himself of them for securing the safety of the public in the practical details of the construction of a theatre.