§ MR. J. HASLAM (Derbyshire, Chesterfield)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money has been paid to tenants as compensation under the Licensing Act of 1904 during the time the Act has been in force up to 1st January, 1908, and how much money would have been paid to tenants during 1105 the same period if the Bill introduced by the present Government had been an Act; how many licences would be likely to lapse under the Act of 1904 during the next fourteen years, i.e., from 1st January, 1909, and what would be the probable compensation to tenants during alit period; and what would be the amount of compensation to tenants under the proposed Licensing Bill should it become an Act.
§ MR. ASQUITHThe only figures available are those of the compensation paid to licence-holders as a whole, who include niany persons besides tenants, and even these are not available for any period before 1st January, 1906. It is from the nature of the case quite impossible to frame conjectural estimates of the kind contemplated by the latter part of the Question, and I can only repeat what I said in answer to the hon. Member for the Newbury Division on 28th March, viz., that the payments to be made to licence-holders under the Bill may be expected to be considerably larger than those made under the Act of 1904.