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HOUSE OF COMMONS

Mr. Janner: When my right hon. Friend is considering it, will he direct his attention not only to the recent case but also to the position of the children and the innocent spouses of bigamous marriages, because that consideration is also involved?

Mr. Ede: We shall have regard to all issues raised by the Question.

PUBLIC HOUSES, STATE MANAGEMENT

23. Mr. Chetwynd asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations he has made regarding the playing of games in licensed premises under State Management.

25. Mr. Granville Sharp asked the Secretary of State for the Home Depart- ment what are the regulations about the playing of darts in public houses under State Management; whether individual managements decide whether dart-play- ing facilities are provided; and whether these are provided.

Mr. Ede: There is no objection in principle to the playing of darts in public houses under State Management, and no regulations on the subject or on the play- ing of other games have been prescribed. It would be a matter for the local management to decide in any particular case, where there appeared to be a de- mand for facilities to play darts, whether they could be provided with due regard to the safety, comfort and convenience of the customers. It is not always easy to find accommodation for the game, but I am anxious that if a proved demand exists it shall be met, and I have given instructions that the provision of suitable space shall be considered in the planning of new or altered premises.

Mr. Chetwynd: Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a nation-wide campaign stimulated by brewing interests to denigrate State-managed houses by saying particularly that the playing of darts and dominoes is prohibited in them?

Mr. Ede: I have noticed that this sub- ject has received certain attention, and I can only congratulate the brewing in- terests on their imagination.

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Mr. Sharp: Can my right hon. Friend answer the last part of my Question, and say whether, in fact, dart playing facilities are actually provided at the present time?

Mr. Ede: Yes, there are places where they are provided.

Mr. Vernon Bartlett: Is it not the fact that brewing interests quite apart, a great number of people in this country do like to play darts, and that in the smallest and oldest pubs they find room to play? Why should it be that in the newly-planned State houses we should have these ques- tions about danger, and so forth?

Viscount Hinchingbrooke: Will the right hon. Gentleman send a carbon copy of that answer to Punch "?

Mr. Gammans: Is it the fact that in the Carlisle pubs no darts are played, and that the reason for that is, that the atmosphere is so miserable no one wants to stay there longer than necessary?

Mr. Ede: I have already answered that question.

Mr. Skeffington-Lodge: Does what my right hon. Friend has told us apply also to the very popular game known as shove-ha'penny?

Wing-Commander

Hulbert:

Would

the right hon. Gentleman explain to the House what, in the view of His Majesty's Government, is a "proved demand for darts "?

Mr. Ede: There are cases in which other users of the house object to the playing of darts.

Mr. Skeffington-Lodge: May I have an answer to my question, please?

24. Mr. Chetwynd asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations he has made regarding the drinking of beer standing in licensed premises under State Management.

Mr. Ede: It has been the practice in the State Management districts to provide seating accommodation for customers in the bars to the fullest extent practicable. A notice is displayed at the counter re- questing customers to move from the bar after being served. There is no com- pulsion to do so, and attention is drawn to the notice only when congestion at

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9 DECEMBER 1948

e bar threatens to interfere with the ¿érvice or the convenience of other

customers.

Mr. Chetwynd: Is my right hon. Friend also aware that many people in this country are now being led to believe that they must drink their beer standing up in the premises?

Mr. Ede: I have come to the conclu- sion myself that it is as well on occasion that a person should be able to prove that he can drink in a perpendicular position.

Mr. Bartlett: It is not the case that people know themselves when to sit down without being told to do so?

Mr. Ede: I have myself on rare occa- sions been in public houses, and it has been very difficult to get to the bar, because people who arrived earlier have not made way. I should have thought

that this is a sound motto: "Drink and let drink."

WATER SUPPLIES, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE (ORDER)

the

28. Sir W. Wakefield asked Minister of Health when the Mid North- amptonshire Water Board Order, 1948, made on 2nd October, 1948, was laid; why was this not stated in the order; why is the date of its coming into opera- tion left blank; and why is there no explanatory memorandum.

The Minister of Health (Mr. Aneurin Bevan): On 9th November. The order is subject to special Parliamentary pro- cedure. There are no requirements that the date of laying should be stated, or that there should be an explanatory memorandum, and it is impossible to predict the date of operation.

NATIONAL HEALTH

SERVICE

Dentistry

29 and 30. Mr. Beswick asked the Minister of Health (1) if in view of the grave shortage of dental practitioners in this country, especially in the schools dental service, he will see that the services

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of qualified dental practitioners who came to this country before 1939 will be fully utilised;

(2) how many of the qualified dental practitioners who took refuge in this country before 1939 are refused permis- sion to register and practise in this coun- try; and for what reason some were allowed to register but others refused.

Mr. Bevan: The admission of foreign- trained dentists to the dental register is, under statute, a matter entirely for the General Medical Council.

Mr. Beswick: Does not my right hon. Friend accept some responsibility for the fact that, on the one hand, there is a grave shortage of dental practitioners in the country, and that, on the other hand, there are people in the country at present who are doing only menial jobs, but who could serve a useful purpose? Could not he use, if not his legislative powers, at least his personal influence in the matter?

Mr. Bevan: I cannot promise the House a thing that it would be quite improper to do-to interfere with the General Medical Council in the exercise of duties statutorily imposed. If the General Medical Council does not con- sider that these dentists are up to the standard required for British dentists, I certainly should not prevail upon them to alter that rule.

Dr. Segal: Would my right hon. Friend, perhaps, point out to the General Medical Council that there is a very strong feeling on the matter in certain parts of the country, and, perhaps, pre- vail upon them to do the right thing in the matter?

Mr. Bevan: Everybody always wants to do the right thing. The question always is, What is the right thing?

Mr. Benn Levy: Is my right hon. Friend aware that as a result of the advice from the General Medical Council at least one case that I could quote to him exists of a first rate dentist who had to emigrate to America, where he has now received a first rate appointment?

Mr. Bevan: I should like to see the evidence on that matter. As I said, this is a statutory duty on the General Medical Council, and I am not answer- able in the House for its decision.