Mr. Rostron Duckworthasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that E.N.S.A. has refused to put into operation, as impracticable, a scheme approved by the Theatres War Service Council and the Ministry of Labour under which small repertory companies throughout the country would give six weeks' national service entertainment for both the Forces and factory workers; and whether he will investigate the matter with a view to altering this decision?
§ Sir J. GriggE.N.S.A. is responsible for providing all members of the Forces1166W with roughly the same amount of entertainment of various kinds, in so far as their locations and other circumstances permit. It is most helpful in achieving this purpose if artistes give their services for a period of some weeks on end and this is in fact now being done by a number of repertory companies. The acceptance of the Theatres War Service Council's offer in its present form, whereby I understand certain repertory companies would devote two nights each week to entertaining Army and Air Force units in their neighbourhood, would at present have the effect in practice of giving these troops no other entertainment but that offered by the local repertory company unless E.N.S.A. arranged for other types of entertainment as well. This would destroy the general balance of entertainment provided for the Forces and for factory workers. The Theatres War Service Council's offer is, however, much appreciated and E.N.S.A. is endeavouring to overcome these difficulties so that the troops will be able to benefit from it.