§ 46 and 47. Viscountess ASTORasked the Prime Minister (1) whether the Government consulted the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) or any individual who could claim to speak on behalf of the Board before arriving at their decision to introduce the Liquor Control (Temporary Restrictions) Bill;
(2) whether the Government consulted the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) before arriving at their decision in favour of an alteration in the Sunday evening hours for the sale and supply of intoxicating liquor?
§ Sir J. BAIRDMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to these questions. In both cases the Government took all such steps as they thought proper.
§ 49. Major KELLEYasked the Prime Minister if he will, in drafting any licensing Bill, consider the advisability of fixing a maximum and a minimum number of hours during which intoxicating liquors may be sold, and will he further consider that the fixing of those hours shall be left in the hands of the local magistrates forming the licensing committees, and who are best able to judge of the needs of their particular districts; is he aware that the people of this country willingly surrendered their rights during the War; is he now willing to restore those rights; and, if it be thought desirable not to return to the pre-war hours of sale of intoxicating 1904 liquors, will he dissolve the Liquor Control Board at once and allow Parliament to fix the maximum and minimum hours of sale?
§ Sir J. BAIRDI have been asked to reply to this question. I can add nothing to the Home Secretary's statement last Thursday that the Government have determined that no change will be made until the whole matter is dealt with by legislation.
§ Major KELLEYIs the hon. Gentleman aware that very bitter discontent exists in the country because the Liquor Control Board is still controlling the hours during which drink is consumed, and that the same feeling would not exist if Parliament were allowed to use its proper powers and dictate the hours during which drink would be consumed?
§ Viscountess ASTORWould it not be in the interests of economy if we used the knowledge of experts in settling the hours of sale instead of a Parliamentary Committee which would incur the expense of getting opinions in different parts of the country? I ask this in the interests of economy.
§ Sir J. BAIRDI believe that there is a certain amount of discontent. With regard to experts, I believe that there are experts on both sides.
§ Viscountess ASTORIs the discontent from the people or from the trade?
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the trade made a great deal more money as a result of the Liquor Control Board's exertions than it ever did when there were long hours, and that if the hours were reduced to two per day the trade would make a great deal more money, because there would be far more drinking?
§ Sir H. BRITTAINIs the hon. Gentleman aware that every workman's club in the land wants to know where it stands and is going to stand on this question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERHon. Members are not entitled to debate this matter on question and answer.
53. Captain TERRELLasked the Prime Minister whether, in new of the dropping of the Liquor Control (Temporary Restrictions) Bill, he proposes to replace the late chairman of the Board, Lord 1905 D'Abernon; and how long without new licensing proposals the present powers of the Board can continue legally?
§ Sir J. BAIRDMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. As regards the first part of the question, the matter is under consideration. As regards the second part, the powers of the Board continue during the continuance of the present War and such period not exceeding 12 months thereafter as may be declared by Order in Council to be necessary in view of conditions connected with the termination of the present War.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYDoes the hon. Gentleman remember that when these restrictions -were introduced the Prime Minister said that these powers were only for the purposes of the War and were limited to the period of the War, and that during the general election he said he recognised the desirability of withdrawing at the earliest possible moment any restrictions imposed on the social habits of the people for the purposes of the War?
§ Sir J. BAIRDI think it quite likely that the Prime Minister did say that, but that was not the only thing he said.
§ Colonel GRETTONMay I ask the hon. Gentleman to refer to Regulation 1 under the Defence of the Realm Act of 1915, which says that the Board shall consist of a chairman, a secretary and so many members?
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYBefore we form an opinion as to the Prime Minister's statements, are we to look for something he says of a totally different character?
§ Sir J. BAIRDI think that if the hon. Member had studied everything that the Prime Minister said about this matter he would have seen that what he has just referred to does not present a complete picture. With regard to the com-' position of the Board, as I have stated, the question of the appointment of a chairman is under consideration.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENDid the Prime Minister include the War in Ireland, which is the only place where there are no liquor restrictions?
§ Sir H. CRAIKIs it not the case that a permanent official of the Home Office is now acting as chairman?
§ Sir J. BAIRDI do not know who is acting as chairman.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs not the Central Control Board run by one Government official?
§ Sir J. BAIRDI believe that that is a very false view of the case, which seems to be very unfairly spread, with regard to this one official. The Board consists of 11 members, of whom he is one.
§ Mr. W. THORNECannot the hon. Member for Springburn (Mr. Macquisten) be made a member.
§ Mr. SPEAKERHon. Members should put these supplementary questions on the Paper.