§ Major KINDERSLEYasked the Minister of Labour whether ho is aware that an agent, acting for the management of the Kit Cat Club, interviewed an official of the Ministry of Labour on 5th March last with regard to permits for the admission of certain alien musicians, known as the Vincent Lopez Band; and that on 10th March a letter was written by his Department to this agent saying that permits would be granted subject to certain conditions pot out in the letter; whether at the interview referred to the agent disclosed the fact that notice would be given to 12 English musicians on 7th March; and, if not, whether, seeing that the giving of such notice was an evasion of one of the conditions of the permit, he will say what action he has taken or proposes to take in the matter?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. According to the recollection of the official concerned, it was stated at the interview that it would be1852W necessary in any event to discharge certain British musicians from the Capitol Theatre on the 7th March. These musicians were employed to play incidental music at the Capitol Theatre which is, I am informed, owned and managed separately from the Kit Kat Club, and I have no evidence to lead me to suppose that their discharge was connected with the issue of the permits for the Vincent Lopez band. This latter was employed at the Capitol Theatre it is true, but for a stage performance, and not in the same capacity as the other band. In these circumstances, I cannot see any sufficient ground for saying that the conditions of the permit have been evaded.