HC Deb 14 February 1985 vol 73 cc285-6W
Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the British agencies which book acts for performance before British and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces.

Mr. Lee

Entertainment paid for by the Ministry of Defence for the United Kingdom armed forces is provided solely by the combined services entertainment division of the Services Sound and Vision Corporation. I have no information about bookings made for and funded by other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces, or those arranged privately.

Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which British agency booked the South African group The C & G Band to play before North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces.

Mr. Lee

The Services Sound and Vision Corporation has no record of engaging this band. I have no information about bookings made for and funded by other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces, or those arranged privately.

Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the arrangements by which performers are recruited to play before British and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces.

Mr. Lee

No. Arrangements made by other NATO countries are a matter for their Governments.

Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will ensure that the South African group The C & G Band does not perform before British forces in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation;

(2) if he will ensure that South African performers are not recruited to play before British and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces.

Mr. Lee

The Services Sound and Vision Corporation's practice is to engage United Kingdom entertainers who are members of the appropriate United Kingdom union, and I see no reason for them to change this policy. Arrangements made by other NATO member countries are a matter for their Governments.

Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to promote the contracting of British entertainers to perform before British and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces.

Mr. Lee

The Services Sound and Vision Corporation will continue to engage British entertainers wherever possible. I am happy to say that they have been well received and their work much appreciated in such widely separated and arduous duty stations as Northern Ireland and the Falklands.

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