§ MR. JOHN WARDI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what number of licensed houses have been closed under the Licensing Act, 1904, in the county of Staffordshire during the years 1905–6–7; what was the total sum paid in compensation for such closing; and what sum was paid to the licence-holders and what sum to the other parties.
§ MR. GLADSTONEAll the available information is contained in the annual volumes of licensing statistics, but for the hon. Member's convenience I have had the following figures extracted from them. In the county of Staffordshire 163 licensed premises have been closed under the Act of 1904. A total sum of £102,780 was paid in compensation, of which £6,294 or 6.12 per cent. went to the licence holders.