THE EARL OF BREADALBANE AND HOLLANDasked His Majesty's Government whether they are aware that the Perthshire Police Committee are admittedly allowing a public hall to be used before it is altered to conform to either the official regulations for safety made by the Secretary of State for Scotland in 1923, under the Cinematograph Act, 1909, and emphasized after the Paisley cinema disaster by Circular Letter No. 2444, or the recommendations by the Scottish Home Department applicable to all types of entertainments; whether they approve of this contemptuous disregard for the regulations which puts persons desiring to arrange entertainments or 757WA films for such occasions as Salute the Soldier Week in a very difficult position; further, whether the Secretary of State has no power to issue directions to a local authority in such case.
LORD ALNESSThe noble Earl will recall that in answer to his previous question on the 16th May, it was stated that the local licensing authority at their meeting on the 8th May revoked the annual licence originally granted to the trustees of the McLaren Hall, Killin, on the 6th November, 1936, and issued a new licence based on recommendations made by the Police Committee after inspection of the premises. My right honourable friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland, has758WA made further inquiry and is informed that in the light of the noble Earl's representation the Police Committee have recently given further consideration to the steps which require to be taken by the trustees to make the premises conform to the Regulations under the Cinematograph Act, 1909, and to the terms of the licence granted by the licensing authority under the Act. As a result of that consideration certain recommendations to bring the premises into conformity with the Regulations were made. These have been communicated to the trustees, who have been directed to see that they are complied with.
House adjourned.