Captain Malcolm Bullock: I wish to say a few words in support of what the hon. Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) has said. I think that London possesses some of the worst statues in the world, and as we grow older some of us regard many of them with horror. I hope that the Minister will seize this opportunity to give the work to some younger sculptor, that he may, perhaps, make it a matter of competition, and that we...
Captain Malcolm Bullock: I am very glad to have the opportunity of raising the question of the future of the South Bank. The Festival is now over and the moths who were attracted by lights of the Skylon and the blaze of candles and electric globes have ceased to cross the bridge, and we must look very carefully to the future of the whole of the South Bank. The Festival has made the people conscious of the beauty of...
Captain Malcolm Bullock: I beg to second the Amendment. I am not speaking as a theatrical manager or as a playwright. I have no connection with the theatre world but speak only as a member of the theatre-going public. We have only two questions to decide. The first question is whether censorship of plays is necessary to the country, and the second is whether the Lord Chamberlain is the best person to do the...
Captain Malcolm Bullock: No, I do not agree. I believe that the labour was worth the trouble of banning these six plays.
Captain Malcolm Bullock: No, but judging by what I know of the work of the Lord Chamberlain's office—I have never been inside it, but I know members of the Advisory Committee, and the trouble they take over their work—I would say that those plays were barred with good reason. I believe that the censorship of plays is necessary in this country. I also believe that the Lord Chamberlain's office is the suitable...
Captain Malcolm Bullock: Why were "Mrs. Warren's Profession" and "Ghosts" allowed to be seen by the public? They are not particularly attractive.
Captain Malcolm Bullock: But it is not now.
Captain Malcolm Bullock: I gave many reasons for liking him.
Captain Malcolm Bullock: I am very glad to be able to welcome this Bill. As long as I can remember I have taken an interest in the theatre, entirely from the point of view of the ordinary spectator, and for some ten years I worked in conjunction with the late Lord Hamilton to try to get Miss Bayliss to fill her dress circle and stalls at the Old Vic. We had a small society formed for that particular reason. Miss...
Captain Malcolm Bullock: I meant to refer to London only. I meant that only the theatre in London should be concentrated on National Theatre drama.
Captain Malcolm Bullock: asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware of the difficulties experienced in obtaining an adequate supply of French films suitable for showing in schools in this country; and what action he is taking to assist in this matter.
Captain Malcolm Bullock: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the majority of schools which ask for French educational films obtain only old-fashioned films, which are scratched and worn?
Captain Malcolm Bullock: I wish to raise tonight the question of the Walker Gallery, in Liverpool, which has been requisitioned by the Ministry of Food and the Ministry of Fuel and Power for the past eight years. The citizens of Merseyside have been deprived of one of the great provincial art galleries in England, Art students of the University of Liverpool have had no place for lectures on the spot, with the...
Captain Malcolm Bullock: Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the propaganda which is going on both in America and in Europe against this country? It is very strong propaganda.
Captain Malcolm Bullock: asked the Minister of Health if he proposes to have libraries for patients and for the hospital staff in all hospitals in future; if there will be paid and trained librarians in all the larger hospitals; and if these librarians will become part of the hospital staff.
Captain Malcolm Bullock: Does the right hon. Gentleman realise the importance of trained librarians in the rehabilitation side of hospital work, and will he be prepared to use the facilities of the county libraries for the training of librarians for the hospitals?
Captain Malcolm Bullock: —To ask the Secretary of State for War (1) if he has received a report on the conditions prevailing in the camps where the 243 paratroopers are serving their sentences for mutiny in Singapore; and if he is satisfied with the conditions there; (2) if he will make a statement on the sentences passed on the 243 paratroopers who were found guilty of mutiny by a court martial at Singapore.
Captain Malcolm Bullock: Can the Minister make any statement as to the conditions in the prison in which these men are serving their sentences? Are they better than those in the previous camp in which they were?
Captain Malcolm Bullock: I thought I said prison camp.
Captain Malcolm Bullock: asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, in many cases, if a soldier is not fitted for clothing when he is demobilised, he has to wait a long time for his suit, sometimes five or six months; and whether, as the clothing position is now easier, he will make arrangements to lessen the period of waiting.
