HC Deb 18 March 1908 vol 186 cc574-5
MR. BOTTOMLEY () Hackney, S.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for the Crowe Division, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, whether he can state what licensed premises are at present owned by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and what number of such premises they have disposed of since 1904.

MR. TOMKINSON () Cheshire, Crewe

According to a reply given on March 11, 1907, the total number of public houses in the Ecclesiastical Commissioners' estates was 332. Within the last twenty years 100 fully-licensed houses in London alone have been reduced, a time limit having been given to the tenant to take effect at the end of the lease. The policy of the Commissioners is to reduce the number of licences on their properties by allowing them to lapse whenever the lease falls in, unless special circumstances and the requirements of the neighbourhood call for their renewal. Beerhouse licences are never renewed. No premises, I believe, have been disposed of since 1904.

MR. BELLOC () Salford, S.

Are we to understand that the Ecclesiastical Commissioners regard the sale of fermented liquor as in some way wrong or immoral?

MR. LEIF JONES () Westmoreland, Appleby

Is it not the case that the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have found licences are injurious to the value of the surrounding property?

[No Answer was returned.]