§ 8. Mr. Morleyasked the President of the Board of Trade what action he will take, in conjunction with the British Travel and Holidays Association, to prevent the recurrence of the incident of discrimination against a coloured American music hall performer at the hotel of which particulars have been sent to him.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftWithout expressing any opinion on the matters alleged in this particular incident, I would say that I very much deplore discrimination on grounds of colour. I fully support the British Travel and Holidays Association in the importance it attaches to hotels and catering establishments extending a courteous welcome to all visitors.
§ Mr. MorleyWhile thanking the President of the Board of Trade for his reply, might I ask whether no further pressure can be brought on those hotels which refuse accommodation to distinguished 180 coloured visitors from abroad who are well able to pay for the accommodation?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI have, of course, no statutory powers in this matter, and I believe that this subject is probably best dealt with by the impact of public opinion.