§ MR. KIMBER (Wandsworth)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it will be competent for the Committee which he has appointed to inquire into the working of the Inebriates Acts to consider whether the penal enactments for drunkenness might not be extended, either as regards the amount of punishment for the "drunk and disorderly," or as regards the application of the law to proved cases of habitual drunkenness, even not necessarily in a public place; and, if not, whether he will extend the Reference to such Committee so as to include such considerations?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI do not think it is expedient to extend the order of Reference to the Committee to the first suggestion of my hon. Friend. I think the second suggestion will be within the province of the Committee. The order of Reference relates exclusively to the treatment of habitual drunkards.