§ * MR. CLOUGH (Yorkshire, W.R., Skipton)I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether the Government can see their way to put down Amendments to a clause in Part IV. of the Licensing Bill which affects clubs, for limiting the hours in which intoxicating liquor shall be supplied to members or their guests in registered clubs, and imposing a minimum age-limit upon the admission of new members to registered clubs.
§ MR. ASQUITHI do not think after the full discussion which this part of the Bill received in Committee that the Government would be justified in putting down Amendments in the sense suggested by my hon. friend at this stage.
§ * MR. CLOUGHMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he cannot, at this, the eleventh hour, introduce into the Bill the very modest recommendation of the Royal Commission that there should be a minimum age-limit of eighteen years for membership of clubs where intoxicating liquors are supplied?
§ MR. ASQUITHI am not at all hostile to the recommendation myself, but it is not desirable to introduce fresh Amendments at this stage.
AN HON. MEMBERDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think some restricttion of hours may be in the interests of real temperance reform?
§ MR. ASQUITHThat is a matter of opinion. The question put to me was whether the Government would put Amendments down. I have replied to that.