§ 30 and 35. Mr. Ivor Thomasasked the Home Secretary (1) whether he is aware that a company of amateur players in Keighley proposed to give a play on a Sunday evening for charitable purposes; that the proposal had to be abandoned on a threat from the Lord's Day Observance Society to take action under the Sunday Observance Act, 1781; and whether, as this intervention has produced great indignation in Keighley, he will take steps to prevent the banning of wholesome Sunday entertainment by the use of an Act which no longer corresponds with religious sentiment;
(2) whether he is aware that many leading actors and actresses have decided that they can no longer give Sunday stage performances for charity owing to the persistent action taken by the Lord's Day Observance Society in upholding the Sunday Observance Act; and whether he will take steps to prevent the banning of wholesome Sunday entertainment by means of legislation which no longer corresponds with public opinion or religious sentiment?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonI am aware of the circumstances to which my hon. Friend refers. Proposals which I made last year for empowering local authorities to permit theatrical performances on Sundays during the war were rejected by this House, and there is no further action I can take at the present time.
§ Mr. ThomasIs my right hon. Friend aware that the action of the Lord's Day Observance Society in this matter is not representative of organised religion in this country; and is he further aware that since the question was debated in the House there has been a considerable change in public opinion and in the feeling inside this House, and is he prepared to reopen this question?
§ Mr. MorrisonI do not feel like reopening the question myself. I rushed in where angels fear to tread, and came a cropper, by a narrow majority the other way, as to which I make no complaint. The theatrical people were not very lively at that time. If it is clear that the House of Commons as a whole wishes the question to be reopened, no doubt steps could be taken to that end. But, to be quite frank, I am not walking into it unless I know that I am on firm ground.
§ Mr. ShinwellDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it wise that we should be governed in 1942 by legislation which was passed in 1781?
§ Commander Locker-LampsonMagna Charta is even older than that.
§ Mr. SorensenIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many new Members have been elected to this House since the Debate to which he refers took place? Might not that fact make all the difference to the situation, and will he not allow a free Debate?
§ Mr. MorrisonI should think it is doubtful. It would depend upon where the new Members come from.
§ Mr. ThomasIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the position, for which my right hon. Friend is in no way responsible, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter in an appropriate form at the earliest opportunity.