HC Deb 22 February 1872 vol 209 cc866-7
SIR ROBERT ANSTRUTHER

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether the proposed licensing scheme of the Government would apply to Scotland; and, if not, whether he would be prepared, during the present Session, to introduce a Bill to suspend any further grant of new licences in Scotland, similar in substance to the Act passed last Session for England and Ireland?

MR. BRUCE

, in reply, said, the Bill of the Government would not include Scotland, whose licensing system was different in some essential particulars from that of England. Whether it might be expedient to introduce for Scotland such a Bill as was passed for England and Ireland last Session would depend very much on the opinion of Parliament after discussing the subject, of which, there would be ample opportunity during the coming months. Such a Bill would not require much time to pass, and it was premature to arrive at any decision on the subject.