§ MR. S. SMITH (Flintshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the depraving character of some plays now acted in London theatres, the Government will consider the advisability of placing the licensing of theatres under the control of the London County Council, as is the case with music halls?
§ MR. PIERPOINTI should like to ask whether the honourable Member who puts the Question has given my right honourable Friend the names of the plays to which he refers, and an assurance that he speaks from his own personal knowledge?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENTI may remind the honourable Member that a Select Committee of this House, which 51 inquired into the licensing and regulation of theatres and places of public recreation in 1892, recommended that the authority of the Lord Chamberlain in this matter should remain in his hands and should not be transferred to the London County Council. I see no reason for departing from this recommendation.