§ MR. BOTTOMLEY (Hackney, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state the number of charges of drunkenness which came before the Metropolitan Police Courts during the year 1907 in 1748 respect of arrests made on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays, respectively; or whether, in the alternative, he will grant a Return giving such information.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL,) Yorkshire, ClevelandThe only available figures of the kind desired by the hon. Member are those which were given by me to the House on the 6th of March last in the debate upon a Motion that licensed premises should be closed on Sundays. The figures show that during the three months ended 31st January, 1907, in the Metropolitan Police District were:—For Saturday, 3,966; Sunday, 946; Monday, 2,032. It would involve great labour and expenditure of time to compile similar figures for a period of twelve months; and I do not think the larger figures, if obtained, would afford ground for any inference which cannot be drawn from the figures already given.
§ MR. BOTTOMLEYWill the hon. Gentleman endeavour before it is too late to induce the Government to include in their forthcoming Licensing Bill a provision for Saturday and Monday closing of public-houses?
§ [No Answer was returned.]