§ Mr. CHARLES ROBERTSasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention had been drawn to a recent auction of 45 licensed premises which were sold at 1815 Newport (Mon.) on 27th ultimo, at which the freehold beerhouse the Three Horse Shoes, Pentwynmawr, was knocked down for £6,100; what Licence Duty was paid by this on-beerhouse in the last financial year; and whether he can form any estimate of the Licence Duty that would be paid under the Finance Bill on the basis of the above-mentioned sum being the market price of this beerhouse?
The HON. MEMBERhad also given notice of the following question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the case in the Newport sale of licensed premises where the Pioneer Hotel, Sirhowy Valley, a new annual licence granted under the Act of 1904 for a monopoly payment of £5,000, and held under a lease for 99 years from 1903 at a ground rent of £90, was sold last week at auction to a brewer for the sum of £24,500; whether the premises are rated at £350 gross and £300 net; and whether, in view of the auctioneer's statement that the publican was paying a rent of £750 a year and that a profit of £2,500 a year was being made out of the house, he can form any estimate, on the basis of these statements, as to the Licence Duty payable in this case under the Finance Bill; and what allowance would be made under Clause 47 of the Bill for the original payment of £5,000 as monopoly value for this licence?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEMy right hon. Friend is endeavouring to obtain the information asked for by my hon. Friend, and will cause it to be forwarded to him at as early a date as possible.