§ MR. CLYNES (Manchester, N.E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can give the number of licensed houses closed in Manchester under the operation of the Licensing Act of 1904; whether opposition was offered to such closing; what was the sum paid in compensation; what proportion of the compensation was paid to the tenants; and whether there is any record of any compensation paid to the workmen or servants who lost situations through the closing of houses.
§ MR. GLADSTONEAll the available information in answer to this Question is contained in the annual volumes of Licensing Statistics. It appears from them that 139 licensed premises have been closed in Manchester under the Licensing Act, 1904, and that a total sum of £107,128 was paid in compensation, of which about 7 per cent. went to the licence-holders.
§ MR. CLYNESThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered the last part of my Question. Have the Government contemplated making provision in the Licensing Bill which will ensure compensation being paid to displaced workmen?
§ MR. GLADSTONEI must refer my hon. friend to the Bill as it stands.
§ MR. BOTTOMLEY (Hackney, S.)Has the right hon. Gentleman formed any estimate of the number of people who will be thrown out of employment if the Licensing Bill becomes law?
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order. Notice should be given of that Question, which is rather far from the Question on the Paper.