§ MR. WEDGWOODI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the statement of the chairman of a large London brewery that, in assessment for local rates, the value of the licence has always been assessed as a permanent one, and owners have made their payments on this basis; whether this practice is universal; and, if not, whether he will urge local authorities which do not assess the value of the licence to do so in future, so as to avoid any inequality of treatment.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSMy attention has been drawn to a statement in the Press to the effect referred to. There is no doubt that in assessing licensed premises the existence of the licence must be taken into account; but I can not say whether the basis adopted by assessment committees in applying this principle is uniform. I have no jurisdiction in the matter, and I could not undertake to intervene with regard to it.