§ 61. Mr. R. Morganasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Orders banning all cinemas on Sunday have been submitted to, and approved by, his Department; and in how many cases local authorities, having received a certificate from the competent authority under Defence Regulation 42B, have decided not to apply for leave to open cinemas on Sundays?
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Herbert Morrison)The closing of cinemas on Sundays, except in places where Sunday opening has been sanctioned by Orders submitted to Parliament, depends on Statute law and not on any authority given by the Home Office. As regards the second part of the Question, I should like to correct the information which I gave to my hon. Friend on 1st October. I only know of two or three cases in which a local council having received a certificate from the competent authority under Defence Regulation 42B has decided not to apply for power to open cinemas on Sunday. The number of Orders submitted to Parliament is over 230, not, as I previously stated, over 270.