§ MR. LEIF JONES (Westmoreland, Appleby)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attenton has been drawn to the fact that, under his Licensing Rules, 1904, if the local bench, after objection by a member of the public, reports a licence as not required, the compensation authority at its preliminary meeting may decide forthwith to renew the licence without hearing the public objector, whereas the compensation authority has no power to refuse the renewal of a licence at the preliminary meeting, but can only refer it for final decision to the principal meeting, at which the licensee concerned must be summoned to attend; and, if so, whether he will modify his rules so as to secure for the public objector the right to be heard in person by any meeting of justices to which is entrusted the power of renewing a licence.
§ *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS,) Kent, St. Augustine'sThe hon. Member seems to be under a misapprehension. The compensation authority have no power, either under 1527 the Licensing Act, 1904, or the rules, to renew any licence. Section 1, Sub-section 2, of the Act provides that they may, if they think it expedient after hearing parties, refuse the renewal of a licence referred to them. If they do not think it expedient, the provisional renewal granted by the renewal authority under the Act and the rules continues in force. The right of the "public objector" (to use the hon. Member's phrase) to be heard before the justices who have power to renew licences is secured by the existing law, and is not affected by the rules, which I see, therefore, no reason to alter.
§ MR. LEIF JONESDoes the licence remain a provisional licence throughout the year?
§ *MR. AKERS-DOUGLASI should like notice of that Question. If the hon. Member will see me privately on the subject I will give him full information.