HC Deb 18 May 1909 vol 5 c212
Mr. WATT

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he would state the hours during which a licensed grocer in Ireland can carry on business on week-days and on Sundays and the powers of sale under his certificate, and also the corresponding hours of sale on week-days and on Sundays which a licensed grocer in Scotland has; if a spirit grocer in Ireland can sell for consumption on the premises both on Sundays and on week-days; and if the certificate of a licensed grocer in Scotland gives any power of sale on the premises?

Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE

The hours of sale by a licensed grocer in Ireland are the same as those in the case of a publican, namely, on ordinary week-days from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., and on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., except in cases with a population of less than 5,000, where premises are closed on ordinary week-days at 10 p.m. and on Saturdays at 9 p.m. The only places in which premises in Ireland can be open on Sundays are Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Limerick, and Waterford, 'I here the hours of sale are from 2 to 5 p.m. The hours of sale on week-days by a licensed grocer in Scotland are, as a general rule, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The statutory form of certificate requires that a licensed grocer in Scotland shall not sell or give out liquors before 8 a.m., or after such hour at night, not earlier than 10 p.m. or later than 11 p.m., as the licensing court may direct. A licensed grocer in Scotland cannot sell or give out liquors or even open his premises for the sale of any goods on Sundays. A spirit grocer in Ireland is not empowered by his licence to sell liquors for consumption on the premises, and the same rule applies to a licensed grocer in Scotland.