§ SIR WILLIAM HOULDSWORTH (Manchester, N.W.)To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can give the number of victuallers', beer-house, and other licences for the sale of intoxicating liquors, the renewal of which has been refused by the justices of the peace in the years 1901 and 1902.
§ (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers Douglas.) This information cannot be given without calling for Returns from all the licensing districts. A Return has been issued for the present year, and there are Returns for the year 1900, and some previous years. It seems to me that this is a Return which need not 1338 be made every year, but that its purpose is sufficiently served if it is called for periodically. It entails much labour, and, as at present advised, I do not see my way to collecting the information for the years 1901 and 1902.