§ 6. Mr. NEIL MACLEANasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the Circus Gleich visited Paris some time ago and was closed down and sent tack to Germany after two weeks; and whether he will ascertain the reasons for this as a guide to his attitude towards the proposed visit to this country?
Mr. HUDSONAllegations of this sort had already been made, and after inquiry the Department was unable to find any foundation for them. If the hon. Member has any definite evidence and will communicate it to me, I shall be glad to make further inquiries.
§ 7. Mr. MACLEANasked the Minister of Labour whether the terms of the permit granted to the artistes of the Circus Gleich confine their work with the 553 circus to their professional performances; and, if not, whether he will reconsider the permits so that their duties with the circus will not include the work of building up or removing the circus from place to place?
Mr. HUDSONIt is proposed that the permits issued to artists shall prohibit them from taking engagements outside the circus performances. As regards the second part of the question, I have no reason to suppose that any interchange of duties of this sort is likely to apply to any of those for whom permits are issued as artists.
§ Mr. MACLEANWill the hon. Gentleman take steps to find out whether it is the custom for those artists to take down and put up the circus in addition to taking part in the actual performances, and, if that is so, will he take steps to prohibit it being done in order to enable employment to be given to British workers in putting up and taking down the circus?