COLONEL LONG (Worcestershire, Evesham)To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether 955 his attention has been drawn to the decision of the Licensing Committee of Worcestershire in the cases of the ancient towns of Upton-on-Severn and Shipston-on-Stour, whereby those towns which since the Act of 1874 have been determined to be populous places, and which are four or five hundred over 1,000 inhabitants, are declared to be no lower populous places, and so reduced to the position of villages; and whether, seeing that there has been no alteration of density, nor decrease of population, nor exceptional drunkenness, he can reinstate the towns in their former position.
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE HOME OFFICE (Mr. COCHRANE, Ayrshire, N.)I have received a report which shows that the decision of the County Licensing Committee was arrived at after repeated hearing and full consideration, and the matter is not one in which the Secretary of State can exercise any authority.