§ MR. W. F. D. SMITH (Strand, Westminster)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the rooms of clubs and institutes in which stage plays, variety performances, and cinematograph exhibitions are constantly given are subject to any inspection, especially in respect of the means of ingress and egress; and, if not, whether he will insert provisions in the Licensing Bill which will have the effect of rendering these rooms as safe as public halls, theatres, and music halls, in which similar performances are given.
§ MR. GLADSTONEThe suggestion of the hon. Member forms part of the large question whether and to what extent the law which now regulates places of public entertainment in the interests of public safety should be applied to private premises, including clubs, where large gatherings are held or entertainments are given. It would be outside the scope of the Licensing Bill to deal 726 with the matter on a broad basis, and I think that it will be found undesirable to deal with only a small part of it.
§ MR. MYER (Lambeth, N.)Will there be any inspection of some of the West-énd clubs where gambling goes on?
§ MR. BOWLESasked whether, as a matter of fact, these places referred to in the first part of the question were subject to any inspection.
§ MR. GLADSTONENo, Sir; I imagine they are not.
§ EARL WINTERTONWill the right hon. Gentleman make certain about it? It is a very important point.
§ MR. GLADSTONEI am pretty certain about it.