§ SIR WILFRID LAWSON (Cumberland, Cockermouth)asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether it is the intention of the Government, either in their Local Government Bill or otherwise, to propose legislation altering the conditions under which licences for the sale of intoxicating liquors are obtainable?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Lord RANDOLPH CHURCHILL) (Paddington, S.)The hon. Gentleman asks me a Question which it is rather difficult for me to answer in a manner 162 which may be satisfactory to him. It is quite impossible for me to indicate to the House, with any kind of precision, what will be the contents of the Local Government Bill which the Government hope to introduce next Session. But, speaking generally, I suppose I may say this—that it would be almost impossible, I imagine, to eliminate, to any considerable extent, from the consideration of the question of local government, the consideration of the subsidiary question of the licensing power with regard to the sale of intoxicating liquors.