§ MR. HORNIMAN (Chelsea)To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the fact that there are a good many cases in the county of London of licensed premises being rebuilt or altered not according to the plans approved by the justices of the peace; and whether he can procure a Return as to the number of the same which have been discovered since 1905.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) I have no information to the effect of the first paragraph of the Question. It is not a matter in which I have any jurisdiction, and I do not think that it would serve any useful purpose to endeavour to obtain a Return such as that suggested. It is provided by Section 11 (2) of The Licensing Act, 1902, that if 1144 any alteration in any licensed premises which gives increased facilities for drinking …. is made without the consent of the licensing justices, a court of summary jurisdiction, on complaint, may by order declare the licence to be forfeited, or direct that, within a time fixed by the order, the premises shall be restored to their original condition. It is open to any person in possession of the facts to make complaint. It is also competent for the licensing justices to take any facts of this nature into consideration when the licence comes up for renewal at the general annual meeting.