§ 29. Mr. R. RICHARDSONasked the Prime Minister whether he has received any resolutions from clubs in the district of Carlisle calling upon the Government to take whatever steps are necessary for the cancellation of the Order issued by the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic), dated 11th February, 1920; and whether he can state what action he proposes to take in the matter?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on Tuesday last to my hon. and gallant 553 Friend the Member for Cumberland N., to which I have nothing to add.
Captain TERRELLMay I inquire whether the restrictions in the Carlisle area are serving any useful purpose at all—are they not the first step to " Pussy -footism"?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI thought " Pussy-footism—was not being able to get anything to drink. That is not the case in Carlisle.
§ Mr. DEVLINCan the right hon. Gentleman say where Pussyfoot is just now?
44. Major LOWTHERasked the Prime Minister whether he has taken the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown as to the legality of the Order made by the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic), Carlisle, dated 12th February, 1920; and, if not, whether he will consider the advisability of doing so, in view of the fact that the Order purports to override the statutory powers of justices to grant licences?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIn view of the powers which are conferred upon the Board under the Act of 1915, there seems to be no reason for specially referring the question to the Law Officers for their opinion, but the Attorney-General has already stated that the Central Control Board have been advised that the making of the Order is within their powers.
§ Mr. A. SHORTCan the right hon. Gentleman say when this Board is going to be abolished?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI cannot add anything to what I have already said on this question.
§ 65. Major Sir KEITH FRASERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether an Order was issued by the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic), dated 12th February, under which it arrogates to itself the right to forbid the supply of intoxicating liquor to clubs formed in the Carlisle area after that date, thus overriding the Statute Law; and, if so, will he take immediate steps to have this Order cancelled?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of MUNITIONS(Mr. James Hope)A reply to a similar question has been already given by the Leader of the House.
§ 66. Mr. GRUNDYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions how many members of the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) were present at the meeting when the Order was made of the 2nd February last prohibiting the formation of any clubs in Carlisle without the sanction of the Board?
§ 67. Mr. ROBERT RICHARDSONhadgiven notice of a similar question.
§ Mr. HOPEI can only repeat that I have nothing to add to the replies that have been given to previous questions on this subject.
§ Mr. GRUNDYBut will the right hon. Gentleman state whether there was more than one member present at that meeting?
§ Mr. HOPEI do not know. The Central Control Board are under no obligation to publish minutes of their meetings.