THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20198, 28 March 1931, Page 15

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

BUDGET NEXT MONTH. MR SNOWDEN CONSULTING OFFICIALS. 'UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —BT BISCTBIO TELEGRAPH—COPYBI3HT.) (Received March 27th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 26. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Philip Snowden, was able to leave his bed yesterday. He continues to make excellent progress, and is in regular consultation with the officials in connexion with the Budget Statement, which, it is hoped, he will be well enough to make personally in the House of Commons on April 28th. ENTERTAINMENT ON SUNDAY. LEGISLATION FORTHCOMING. (Received March 27th, 5.5 p,m.) LONDON, March 26. The Home Secretary, Mr J. R. Clynes, announced in the House of Commons today that-in view of the public demand for a review of the problem of Sunday entertainment, the Government would introduce a Bill for the purpose, not of advocating a particular policy, but of affording Parliament an opportunity to discuss the situation which had arisen from recent decisions the Law Courts, and to find a solution which would approximate more closely to the-wishes of the nation as a, whole. As the best starting point for a free discussion, the Bill, added Mr Clynes, would accordingly provide machinery for regulating the existing practice, and local authorities would be granted permission for Sunday opening,, subject to such conditions as they thought fit. Provision would be made in the Bill for a continuance of the existing practice under which Sunday opening of cinemas had been subject to tho conditions that profits should be given to approved charities, and that no employees should be, worked Beven days a week. It would be for Parliament freely to determine whether the existing law as declared by the Courts should remain unaltered, and whether the existing practice should be legalised or whether that practice should be modified or extended. The measure, *which would be left to the free vote of the House, would be introduced as soon as possible after Easter. ARMY MEAT CONTRACT. (Received March 27th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 26. The Secretary of State for War, Mr T. Shaw, in answer to a question in the House of Commons, said that the Army tinned meat contract for 1931, had gone to the Argentine.