HC Deb 14 June 1888 vol 327 cc122-3
SIR WILLIAM HOULDSWORTH (Manchester, N.W.)

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, in view of the withdrawal of the Licensing Clauses of the Local Government Bill, the Government would be willing to introduce into that Bill a clause, or to bring in a short Bill to suspend for 12 months the issue of all new licences for the sale of intoxicating liquors, as was done in 1871, pending further consideration of the question?

THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)

In answer to my hon. Friend, I have to state that the Government are not prepared to enter into any arrangement or engagement with the House to introduce a Bill suspending for 12 months the issue of all new licences for the sale of intoxicating liquors.

MR. COBB (Warwick, S.E., Rugby)

Arising out of the answer of the right hon. Gentleman, I beg to ask him whether, after the declaration made by the President of the Local Government Board in introducing the Local Government Bill, the House is to understand that the Government intend to postpone indefinitely dealing with the questions of Local Option, Sunday Closing, and the conferring of powers for granting licences upon Bodies to be elected by the ratepayers?

MR. W. H. SMITH

The hon. Gentleman must draw his own inference from the course which the Government have been compelled to take.

Subsequently,

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT (Derby)

With reference to the Notice given by the Government of their intention to omit certain clauses of the Local Government Bill, I beg leave to give Notice that when a Motion is made to omit Clause 9, relating to Sunday Closing, I shall oppose the omission of that clause.