53. Mr. YOUNGasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to a meeting in aid of charity at a house in Grosvenor Square, on 7th December, when games of chance, chemin-der-fer and roulette were played for high stakes; whether the proceedings have been investigated by the police authorities; and whether it is proposed 26 to take proceedings against the organisers for a contravention of the laws prohibiting gambling?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI am informed by the Commissioner of Police that the police have no evidence that unlawful gaming took place at the party held in Grosvenor Square on the evening of the 7th instant. In any event it would be outside the realm of practical politics for the police to take proceedings in respect of games played on isolated occasions in a private house which is not a common gaming house or a house kept for the purpose of unlawful gaming. When, as happens from time to time, reliable information reaches the police that houses are being kept or used as gaming houses, suitable action is at once taken.