HC Deb 04 March 1948 vol 448 cc526-7
67 and 69. Major Tufton Beamish

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on what grounds it has been decided to seek fresh powers for an indefinite period to prolong the existing ban on mid-week greyhound racing;

(2) whether he will give some facts and figures to show the effect that the ban on mid-week greyhound racing has had on absenteeism.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Ede)

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Levy) on 19th February.

Major Beamish

Will the right hon. Gentleman take the country and the House into his confidence in this matter? Can he give the reason why this ban should be continued, and then people will be prepared to accept it more readily?

Mr. Ede

I hope to do so on the Second Reading of the Bill.

Mr. Drayson

Am I correct in understanding that when the Home Secretary answered this Question before, he stated that this ban was maintained at the request of the trade unions, because they said that they could not guarantee full production if mid-week greyhound racing were allowed to continue in operation?

Mr. Ede

No, Sir. I made no such statement.