Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the anxiety that prevails in the North of Scotland on the question of hotel licences and the impossibility of their being able to pay the licences proposed under the Finance Bill, he will take an early opportunity of stating what modifications he is prepared to grant to residential hotels, with especial reference to those whose trade is mostly seasonal?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEMy right hon. Friend has received communications from various quarters as to the effect of the proposals in the Finance Bill in regard to licences for residential hotels, some of which are only open for short seasons, and these communications are being carefully considered, but it would be premature for me to make a statement in regard to them at the present time.
Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that it is intended to revalue all fully licensed premises, including hotels and on-beerhouses, throughout the United Kingdom, and that the licences will be charged on the basis of the trade done 1089 in spirits and beer, he will postpone the increased Licence Duty on residential hotels until such valuation is made?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEMy right hon. Friend cannot undertake to postpone the increased Licence Duty on residential hotels, but he is considering whether the new valuation of hotels, not coming within Clause 31 of the Finance Bill (to which he gathers my hon. Friend principally refers), can be expedited so as to enable the duty to be charged during the year 1909–10 upon the basis of the valuation to be made under Sub-clause (2) of Clause 30 of the Bill.