MR. HERBERT ROBERTS (Denbighshire, W.)I beg to ask the hon. Member for East Bristol, as Church Estates Commissioner, how many applications have been made to the Ecclesiastical Commissioner by lessees for their leave to sell wine, beer, and spirits in each of the years 1890–1905, both inclusive; and in how many cases in each of these years the application has been granted.
§ MR. CHARLES HOBHOUSE (Bristol, E.)The number of such applications, would not exceed six in any one year, and the number granted would be less, but I have no means of ascertaining the respective numbers without a laborious, search through the papers of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, for which there appears to be no sufficient reason.
MR. HERBERT ROBERTSI beg to ask the hon. Member for East Bristol, as Church Estates Commissioner, how many of the places upon the estates of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, which were licensed during 1905 for the sale of beer, wine, or spirits, have been leased from the Commissioners since 1889, and in how many cases the lease will expire within the next five years.
§ MR. CHARLES HOBHOUSEThe Ecclesiastical Commissioners know of no licence granted in respect of any place upon their estates during the year 1905.