§ 25. Mr. RAMSDENasked the Prime Minister whether he has received many letters of protest from all over the country with regard to the action of the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) in putting back the hours for Sunday closing to 9 o'clock; whether, in view of the unsatisfactory position, unrest, and irritation caused by these irksome restrictions throughout the country, which have not in any way diminished the consumption of liquor but have rather increased it, he will inform the House when he purposes to entirely remove these restrictions; and will he give comparative figures showing the amount of liquor, both beer and spirits, consumed in this country each year both before and since the restrictions of the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) have been in force?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Herbert Fisher)With regard to the first part of the question, which deals with Sunday closing, my right hon. Friend has received letters both from opponents and from advocates of the change and has asked for a Report upon the subject from a Committee of Members of this House. With regard to the second part of the question, I would advise the hon. Member to wait for the Bill which will shortly be introduced. With regard to the third part of 555 the question, I do not think the figures asked for would be of any value in this connection. The amount of liquor consumed was far more strongly influenced by the Orders of the Food Controller imposing restrictions on output than by any Orders of the Central Control Board.
§ Mr. RAFFANMay I ask whether the Committee which has been set up proposes to take evidence, and whether it will be competent for representatives of churches, brotherhoods and others interested in maintaining a sober Sunday in this country to make representations in any way to the Committee as to their views?
§ Mr. FISHERI am not aware what procedure the Committee proposes to adopt, but if the hon. Member will put a question down I shall be very glad to answer it.
§ Mr. RAFFANMay I ask whether there is any objection to churches and bodies of that kind making representations to the Committee as to their point of view?
§ Mr. FISHERNone whatever.
64. Sir F. HALLasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware of the intense disappointment experienced by members of working men's clubs that alcholic beverages cannot now be purchased on Sundays after 9 p.m.; whether he is aware that the alteration back from summer time to normal time does not materially affect the hour at which members leave their clubs; and whether, under the circumstances, he will not wait for any Report from the Committee which is to be set up to inquire into questions affecting the consumption of alcoholic liquor, but will allow the clubs to return to their hours of between 7 and 10 p.m. on Sundays at which such liquor can be supplied?
§ Mr. FISHERI have been asked to answer this question. As the hon. and gallant Member will recollect, the question of the hours for the sale of liquor on Sunday evenings is now under investigation by a Committee of Members of this House: and in any case it is not in the power of the Government to take the course suggested in the last paragraph of the question.
§ Mr. FISHERThat depends upon the deliberations of the Committee.
Sir F. HALLWould it not be possible in the meantime to allow the same Regulation which was in operation during summer time now that we have got back to Greenwich mean time?
§ Mr. FISHERThat might be possible.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a considerable number of workmen's clubs have reverted to pre-War hours in Sheffield without interference by the police who in this matter are much wiser than the Government?
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe had better see the question on the Paper.
47. Lieut.-Colonel Sir F. HALLasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that in pre-War days persons requiring a small amount of spirituous liquor were able to purchase the same and take it to their own homes for consumption, whether, according to the present Regulations, it is impossible for a small consumer to purchase anything less than a bottle of whiskey or brandy unless furnished with a medical certificate; and whether, considering that promises have been made to do away with the restrictions of the Defence of the Realm Acts, steps will at once be taken to rescind this Regulation in order that the liberties of the people in this matter may again be restored to them?
§ Mr. FISHERI have been asked to reply to this question. The facts are substantially as stated in the first two paragraphs of the question. The Regulation referred to is part of a code with which the Government have repeatedly said it is undesirable to interfere fundamentally pending further provision by Parliament on the general subject.
Sir F. HALLWill the Committee which is now sitting have this question before them, and, if so, when does the right hon. Gentleman expect that any report will be presented to the House?
§ Mr. FISHERI understand that the reference to the Committee is restricted to the question of Sunday closing.
Sir F. HALLAre we to take it that it is to be a permanent Regulation that a man shall not be allowed to go to a public-house to purchase what he wants and take it home for his own consumption?
§ Mr. FISHERThere is no permanent Regulation. We hope that Parliament will soon have an opportunity of reviewing all these Regulations.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a growing practice of people clubbing together, buying wholesale, and dividing it with one another, and is not that an abuse?