Mr. DOYLEasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that, although the London County Council and other local bodies have adopted effective bye-laws to secure the safety of the public in the cases of cinema theatres and other houses of entertainment by providing exits, etc., such Regulations are habitually disregarded when the aisles and passages leading to such exits are crowded with people; and what steps the police authorities take to see that measures to ensure the public safety are not persistently broken?
§ Mr. SHORTTI have no confirmation of the statement in the first part of the question. The London County Council inform me that licences issued by them contain a condition to the effect that persons must not be allowed to stand in any of the intersecting gangways, and that, if they are allowed to stand at the sides or rear of the seating, sufficient room must be left for persons to pass easily to and fro. The premises licensed by the Council are inspected at frequent intervals by officers of the Council, and it is generally found that the condition referred to is well observed; but whenever any infringement is discovered suitable action is taken. I am also informed that in considering the number of exits the Council take into account not only the seating capacity but the number of persons who may be permitted to stand. In reply to the second part of the question, the enforcement of these Regulations rests with the licensing authority and not with the police.