HC Deb 12 May 1924 vol 173 c926W
Mr. MILLS

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he will, in view of the grave unemployment in the acting profession, insist that in any pageants that are being arranged, professional actors and actresses will be selected?

Mr. LUNN

The only pageant with which the Government are concerned is the pageant of Empire which is being organised by His Majesty's Government. I regret that financial considerations make it imperative that the performers in this pageant, of whom a very large number is required, should be recruited from those who are willing to give their services. I should add that, so far as I am aware, it is the invariable practice for performers in historical pageants on any large scale to be recruited on a voluntary basis.