§ LORD DAVIESMy Lords, I rise to ask the first question standing in my name on the Paper.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are aware that the Entertainments National Service Association has failed to provide suitable recreation and entertainment for the Armed Forces; whether it is intended to improve these facilities particularly for the members of small units in isolated areas; and whether they will consider the introduction of new arrangements designed to secure a larger measure of direct financial support for organizations other than the Entertainments National Service Association.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (LORD CROFT)My Lords, in answer to my noble friend, Ensa is not controlled by my Department, but I have no reason to doubt that the organization is efficiently conducted. The suitability of the entertainment provided is a matter which is constantly discussed between the War Department and Ensa. I am aware that Ensa only supplies about 20 per cent. of the entertainment given to the Army but the greater part of such entertainment is supplied by the soldiers themselves; by voluntary entertainers; and by means of films which are exhibited on equipment supplied both by the War Department and from other sources. War Department projection equipment and films are supplied out of public funds and public funds are available to contribute towards the equipment and transport costs of Service Entertainment and the transport costs of voluntary entertainment. Measures are constantly under consideration for increasing the amount of entertainment of all kinds that can be sent to isolated localities. In order that professional entertainment provided out of public funds may be fairly apportioned to the troops throughout the whole country, it has been considered essential that the supply of such entertainment should be in the hands of a single organization. Ensa has been selected as that organization and there is no present intention of altering that policy or of extending direct financial support to other organizations.
§ LORD DAVIESMy Lords, arising out of that reply, would my noble friend tell us whether local units are precluded from raising funds in their own locality for these entertainments?
§ LORD CROFTMy Lords, really I should have to ask for notice of that question before I could give a complete answer. I can only tell my noble friend now that we have been most actively engaged in encouraging units in every possible way to provide their own entertainment. We are satisfied that that has made enormous strides. I am glad to say that the small posts referred to by my noble friend are frequently helped from units that can send men, but I should have to inquire as to whether they can raise funds.