§ 70. Sir P. Hannonasked the Home Secretary what recent reports he has had from the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis on the question of taking steps to control the opening and conduct of premises used for bottle parties; whether he will call for a special report on this subject from the Commissioner in view of the great increase in the number of premises used for such purposes since the outbreak of war; and whether he will give an assurance that action will be taken in the light of such reports?
§ Sir J. AndersonThis is a matter to which, as stated in a reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Mr. Liddall) on 11th March, I have been giving special attention in consultation with the Commissioner of Police. The information which the Commissioner has given me shows that there is no ground for the suggestion that there has been 1648 any substantial increase in the number of such places since the outbreak of war, but I am considering whether the war situation has introduced special conditions calling for special war-time measures
§ Sir P. HannonWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for his courteous reply, may I ask whether this evil is growing or not? Is it not a very deplorable state of things in the City of London when young soldiers are, from time to time, brought within the ambit of these obnoxious places?
§ Sir J. AndersonI am inquiring into the whole matter.
§ Mr. ThorneIs the Home Secretary aware that I have had a definition of these bottle parties, and that they start at 10 o'clock at night and keep on until six o'clock in the morning?