– in the House of Commons at on 6 October 1931.
Mr Harry Day
, Southwark Central
asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the number of permits issued to foreign dance bands to enter Great Britain from 1st January, 1931, showing the number of musicians employed in these various bands; whether the permits were for appearance either in music halls or cabaret performances; and the average length of such permits?
Mr Milner Gray
, Mid Bedfordshire
No permits have been issued since the 1st January, 1931, to enable foreign bands to come to this country to play for dancing, but three individual foreigners have been granted permission since that date to join British dance bands. Eight bands—comprising 148 individuals—have been admitted since the 1st January, 1931, to play at music hall or cabaret performances. Two of these are still here. The validity of the permits has varied from seven days to three months, but extensions have been granted in some instances.
Mr Harry Day
, Southwark Central
Can the hon. Gentleman say whether extensions have been granted to the three individual permits and for how long? Are they indefinite?
Mr Milner Gray
, Mid Bedfordshire
I could not answer that question as regards three individuals without having further inquiries made.
Mr Alexander Haycock
, Salford West
Is there any prospect of reciprocity now from America so as to allow Jack Hylton's and other bands to go there?
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
