§ 84. Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Minister of Munitions if he is aware that a recent Order of the Central Control (Liquor) Board has the effect of instituting different closing hours in adjoining districts in East Kent; and if he will give directions, in order to establish uniformity and equality of treatment as between localities in which the conditions are identical, that the hours for opening licensed houses in the Shorncliffe area shall be made the same as those now prescribed for the Canterbury area?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe Minister of Munitions has no power to give such directions as are referred to in the hon. Member's question. The Central Control Board's recent Order for the South-Eastern area, which includes the greater part of Kent, prescibes nine o'clock as the evening closing hour. The Board, in their Order for the Shorncliffe area, which has been in force since January, fixed eight o'clock as the closing hour, in compliance with the strong request of the naval and military authorities. I understand that the Board would not be prepared to extend the hour to nine unless the naval and military authorities expressed a desire for such an extension.
§ Mr. McNEILLWill the right hon. Gentleman say, if the Ministry of Munitions have no power to give the directions asked for, how Parliament can deal with the matter?
§ Dr. ADDISONI cannot answer the latter part without notice.