§ MR. A. WILLIAMSON (Elgin and Nairn)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that the provisions of Section 21 of The Licensing Act, 1902, prohibiting the holding of any coroner's inquest on licensed premises where other suitable premises have been provided for such inquest, will come into operation on March 31st, 1907, he will consider the advisability of addressing a communication to the local authorities of England and Wales, drawing their attention to the enactment in question and to the desirability of their, in the interval, making suitable provision, or otherwise securing accommodation, for such courts upon unlicensed premises, before the date named, in accordance with the intention of the Legislature.
§ * MR. GLADSTONEI will consider what action I can properly take in the matter and whether I should issue a circular to county and borough authorities 373 but it must be borne in mind that except in the county of London local authorities are not under any statutory obligation to provide places for the holding of inquests.