§ MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the exhibitions now going on of jumping and diving into water from a great height, and to the extreme danger of the performance; and whether he can do anything to stop such exhibitions?
§ MR. ASQUITHMy attention has been called to the exhibitions referred to in the question of the hon. Member; but I have no power to stop exhibitions or performances which, though they may be dangerous to the performers, are not necessarily dangerous to the spectators. On this, as on similar previous occasions, warnings have been given through the police to the persons responsible for the exhibition that they should take all proper precautions, and I am afraid I can do nothing more.
§ MR. BARTLEYMay I ask whether, in the event of serious accident, the persons who give the entertainment cannot be made liable in someway? Many of those exhibitions are only attractive simply by reason of their danger.
§ MR. ASQUITHIf the person controlling, the performance were guilty of gross negligence he would be liable under the Criminal Law.