§ 9. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to take any action during the present Session with regard to bogus night clubs; and, if so, what form this action will take?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir William Joynson-Hicks)I can add nothing to the reply that I gave on the 23rd November last to a question by the hon. and gallant Member on this subject.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWas there not at that time some legal difficulty with regard to definitions, and is the right hon. Gentleman taking steps to overcome the difficulty?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI thought some little time ago that I had discovered a way out of the difficulty, but I am not quite certain that my proposal would have held water in the Law Courts. The whole question of clubs has been raised by a deputation, and I am considering the whole matter, not only night clubs, but clubs in general.
§ Mr. R. RICHARDSONIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the clubs represented on the deputation had no connection whatever with bogus clubs?
§ Mr. N. MACLEANMay we take it that the Home Office has not intelligence sufficient to make the necessary definition of a bogus night club? Is the Home Secretary more interested in considering the challenges and accusations against Labour members in this country, than he is about putting down, what is a very grave disorder in London?