§ MR. FETHERSTONHAUGH (Fermanagh, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what is the present number of public-house licences in Ireland, and how many of them are attached to promises of under £10 valuation and are thereby entitled to 454 pay a licence duty of £4 10s. for a full licence and £3 17s. 1d. for a six-day licence; whether he is aware that in the country districts and smaller towns the valuation is often less than £1; and, except in Belfast, under recent revaluation, has the value of the licence and trade goodwill ever been taken into account in arriving at the letting value.
(Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) The number of public-house licences issued in Ireland in the year ended 31st March last, was 17,393, of which 7,190 were attached to premises of under £10 valuation. Of these, 6,149 were in respect of full licences at £4 10s., 900 in respect of six-day or early closing licences at £3 17s. 1d., and the remaining 141 in respect of six-day and early closing. The Answer to the last part of the Question is in the negative.