§ MR. BIGGAR (Cavan, W.)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in framing his coming Budget, he will consider the propriety of charging licence duty to clubs on the same scale as that charged to hotels and public-houses at present licensed for the sale of intoxicating drinks?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN, St. George's. Hanover Square)Looking to the near approach of the Budget, I am bound to practise as much reticence with regard to the imposition of new taxes as I am obliged to observe with regard to the remission of taxation. The subject, how- 302 ever, has often occupied the Inland Revenue, and their attention has been particularly directed to it in connection with the spread of so-called "bogus" clubs.
§ MR. BIGGARMay I ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider the propriety of limiting the hours for the sale of intoxicating' drinks in clubs to the hours allowable in hotels and ordinary public-houses; and if he is prepared to support the limitation, or will he attempt to carry it out by legislation?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. MATTHEWS, Birmingham, E.)I am not prepared to introduce or to support legislation of the kind suggested by the hon. Member in the case of bonâ fide clubs. The existing law has enabled prosecutions to be instituted against so-called clubs, which are really unlicensed places for the sale of intoxicating liquors.