§ 82. Colonel DAYasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the continued serious depression in the entertainment industry, as a result of which a large number of musicians 1829 are totally unemployed; and, seeing that the practice of permitting the regimental bands of His Majesty's Forces to accept private employment is one of the causes of this depression, will he issue instructions that service bands must not accept private engagements to the detriment of civilians?
§ Captain HACKINGMy right hon. Friend has no knowledge of the conditions referred to in the first part of the question. But he would point out that military bands are permitted to accept civil engagements in response to a public demand for their services, and that they may not accept such engagements at lower rates than would be charged by civilian bands whose members belong to the Musicians' Union. My right hon. Friend is not prepared to issue instructions to the effect desired by the hon. Member.