§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House, I wish to make a short personal statement.
On 28th February, in answer to a Question from the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway), I 1762 explained that the Royal Marine Band undertook both public and private engagements while in Cape Town. The public engagement was a concert given in the open air, at which members of all races formed the audience. The private engagement, which, in accordance with longstanding custom, military and marine bands accept on commercial terms, was at the invitation of the Cape Town Branch of the Royal Naval Association.
I informed the House that this meeting was confined to members. I have since heard that tickets were, in fact, sold to the general public. The cinema management, acting in accordance with local regulations, confined admission to members of the European races.
I apologise, Mr. Speaker, for my mistake.