HC Deb 23 June 1966 vol 730 cc875-6
8. Mr. Gurden

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to control and license clubs which cause a nuisance to local residents and others.

Miss Bacon

My right hon. Friend cannot hold out a prospect of Government legislation on this subject in the present Session. The hon. Member will, however, be aware that a Bill to provide for the registration and control of unlicensed clubs has been introduced by the hon. Member for Blackpool, North (Mr. Miscampbell).

Mr. Gurden

Is the Minister aware that, while there are many towns still free from them, these disreputable clubs have spread very much in Birmingham and unless the matter is treated with some urgency they will become widespread? It is a very serious matter.

Miss Bacon

I fully agree with the hon. Member and we hope that something will be done. As he will know, some towns and cities have taken steps to tackle this problem by Private Bills, but if a Bill is passed by this House it will not be necessary to introduce local Private Bills.

Mr. J. T. Price

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many of us on both sides of the House think that the time is long overdue when we should take very drastic action by legislation to root out many of these rat-holes which are infesting the country? Is she aware that I will give the utmost support for the provision of any Parliamentary time, even if it means extra sittings, to deal with this matter, because it is a social evil which was not anticipated by this or the previous Government, and urgent legislation is necessary and demanded by many people whom I represent in this House?

Miss Bacon

I am sure that my hon. Friend has voiced the feelings of a great many hon. Members on both sides of the House. It may be that when the Private Member's Bill comes before the House it will receive a substantial Second Reading vote.

Mr. Hogg

Is not the right hon. Lady aware that this matter has caused such deep concern that the Lord Chief Justice himself has introduced legislation in another place? What is holding up the affording of facilities by the Government for his Bill or the Private Member's Bill which has been referred to? Surely it is a sufficiently important matter to take precedence over many other items in the Government's programme?

Miss Bacon

The right hon. and learned Member will appreciate that the allocation of time is not a matter for me, but we know that this is a very urgent problem. It has been for some years and it seems to have been getting rather worse recently.