§ SIR C. CAMERON (Glasgow, Bridgeton)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the attention, of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue has been called to the fact that Roderick Macaulay, a publican in Claddach, Kirkibost, North Uist, whose application for renewal of his certificate was not granted by the statutory licensing court, of the district (Lochmaddy) in April last, continues to exercise his calling despite the non-renewal of his certificate; and whether the local excise authorities have allowed Macaulay to deposit with them the licence duty, and permit him to carry on his business as a publican notwithstanding the lapse of his certificate; and, if so, under what authority this disregard of the provisions of the Scottish licensing laws is permitted?
§ MR. HANBURYMacaulay's application for renewal of his certificate was delayed by mistake, and the delay would probably not have occurred if the justices' clerk had sent him an application form in advance, as had formerly been the practice. His petition to be allowed to continue his business until the nest sittings was endorsed and recommended by the magistrates who formed the Licensing Court; and they stated that, but for the technical irregularity, his application for renewal would have been granted 1341 unanimously. In these circumstances the Inland Revenue Board accepted payment of the amount of the licence duty and instructed their officers not to interfere with Macaulay carrying on his business till October.