§ SIR W. LAWSON (Cumberland, Cockermouth)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that, on Saturday, 1st July, Alderman Morgan, sitting at the City Summons Court, Guildhall, granted an occasional licence to Miss Emma Lake for the sale of refreshments at St. Mary's, Woolnoth, seats having been erected there to view the Royal Procession, and that she was requested by the churchwardens to make the application for the licence; and whether a 810 Magistrate sitting alone had power to grant such a licence?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. ASQUITH, Fife, E.)The statements contained in the first paragraph are correct. With regard to the second paragraph, a Magistrate sitting alone has the power to consent to such an application in pursuance of Section 20 of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1863 (26 & 27 Vict., cap. 33). The granting of the licence itself rests with the Commissioners of Inland Revenue.