§ MR. GUY DAWNAYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether the effect of the Sunday Closing Act in Wales has been to increase the amount of drunkenness on Sunday in Welsh counties; and, as reported in the newspapers of the 3rd March, in the case of the town of Wrexham, to lead to the establishment of large numbers of illicit drinking dens?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTI have no actual figures to give with regard to the operation of the Sunday Closing Act in Wales, because those statistics have not been prepared. But the report I have heard from Wrexham has not been favourable to the condition of that town on Sundays. But there are some Returns—and this is a matter of considerable interest—to which I would refer the hon. Member on this matter. In Scotland, as he knows, Sunday closing has been in operation for a great many years, and there has been a Return moved for by the hon. Member for Glasgow (Mr. Anderson)—[Cries of "Wales, Wales!"] I will give him two figures from it which will supply him with what he wants to know as to the effect of Sunday closing.
§ MR. GUY DAWNAYMy Question refers to Wales, and not to Scotland.
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTI thought the hon. Member would like to 653 know the effect of Sunday closing in Scotland. ["No, no!"] There is a rule of law that when a Member asks a Question he ought to take the answer. ["No!"] I do not wish to press upon the House anything they do not care to hear; and all I will say is, that I refer the hon. Member to Return No. 330, Scotland, where he will find some useful information on this subject.