HC Deb 23 March 1905 vol 143 cc953-4
*MR. LEIF JONES (Westmoreland, Appleby)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, pending the issue of detailed Returns under the Licensing Act, 1904, Section 7, he can make a summary statement, giving the total number of licensing districts in which any licences have been refused renewal or reported for non-renewal in the general annual licensing meetings just concluded, together with the total number of licences so refused or reported.

*MR. AKERS-DOUGLAS

I could not comply with this request without calling for a special return from every Licensing, Bench in the country; and, as the figures so procured would not give any real indication of the results to be obtained under the Act, I do not feel justified in taking this course. I have under consideration arrangements for showing the operation of the Act during the year so soon as information is available.