§ Mr. R. Morganasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the pressure which local authorities have recently put on hotels and restaurants in the London area to alter their entrance and exit facilities because of a disaster in a night club in Boston, U.S.A., in November, 1942, why no similar attention is being paid to bottle parties and night clubs in London, many of which are conducted in premises from which means of escape from fire are inadequate.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonThe provision which empowers the London County Council to require means of escape in case of fire is applicable to all buildings which contain a place of assembly having a superficial area of not less than 500 square feet; and I do not know what is the basis for the suggestion that in the exercise of this power there has been discrimination against hotels and restaurants. If my hon. Friend will send me particulars of any case he has in mind, I will have further inquiry made.