HC Deb 08 May 1890 vol 344 cc456-7
MR. STOREY

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether the Government have determined on any alteration of the policy regarding licences embodied in the Local Taxation Bill, with regard to which he stated that "the word compensation was inappropriately applied," since the President of the Board of Trade is reported to have announced at Bristol, that The compensation was to come either from the pockets of those who made and sold intoxicating liquors, or from the pockets of those who consumed them"?

* THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL-GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. RITCHIE,.) Tower Hamlets, St. George's

The Government have made no alteration in their policy.

MR. STOREY

Is that the policy of compensation?

* MR. RITCHIE

There is a sense in which the word "compensation" may be used with regard to payment for value received, but the ordinary sense in which "compensation" is used is in respect of compulsory acquisition, and the proposals of the Government are purely voluntary and of no other character.

MR. SAMUEL EVANS (Glamorgan, Mid)

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether,in the event of any County Council not desiring to expend the funds granted to them by the Local Taxation (Customs and Excise) Duties Bill in compensating the owners, of licences, by paying money under the provisions of the measure for the extinction of licences, such County Council may use such funds for other public purposes?

* MR. RITCHIE

It is not proposed that the funds to be placed at the disposal of County Councils for the purpose of the extinction of licences should be used for any other purpose.

MR. S. EVANS

Will the county lose the benefit of the fund entirely?

* MR. RITCHIE

No, Sir, the money will stand to the credit of the county.

MR. H. H. FOWLER (Wolverhampton, E.)

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if he will lay upon the Table a Statement showing the local taxation licences collected in each administrative county and county burgh for the year ending 31st March, 1890?

* MR. RITCHIE

I hope to be in a position to lay such a Statement upon the Table early in June.