§ MR. SAMUEL ROBERTS (Sheffield Ecclesall)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that there are in existence a number of on-licences, the full monopoly value of which has been paid by their owners in accordance with Section 4 of The Licensing Act, 1904; and whether it is intended under the provisions of the Licensing Bill now before Parliament that these licences shall, after fourteen years, be subject to extinction without compensation as if they were licences for which no monopoly value had been paid.
§ MR. ASQUITHI am aware that there are in existence on-licences, in respect of 111 which the persons to which the persons to whom the licence was granted have paid "monopoly value," under Section 4 of the Licensing Act of 1904. Under that Act the holders of these licences are not entitled to compensation on the extinction of their licences; and the Bill makes no difference in this respect.
§ MR. SAMUEL ROBERTSWill the right hon. Gentleman make some provision in Committee to deal with cases of this kind?
§ MR. ASQUITHThe Bill does not alter the law in any way in regard to this.
§ MR. SAMUEL ROBERTSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many large sums have been paid in such cases—in one as much as £3,000
§ MR. ASQUITHI am well aware of that.
§ MR. LEIF JONES (Westmoreland, Appleby)Is it not the case that the longest period for which licences are granted under this Act is seven years, and does not that dispose of the claim to a vested interest?
§ MR. ASQUITHasked for notice.