§ 23. Colonel Sir A. HOLBROOKasked the Home Secretary what is the State Management District Council referred to in the Civil Services Estimates (Class II, 30), page 205; and, there being no provision for this council in the Estimates, why the whole of the accounting for the expenditure in connection with the State manager of the liquor trade in certain districts is left in the hands of this unauthorised body?
§ Mr. SHORTTI informed the hon. and gallant Member of the composition of this Council on the 8th March last, and stated that it had been appointed to assist the Secretary for Scotland and myself in the administration of the State Management districts. In these circumstances, it is the simplest and most economical arrangement that the responsibility of my right hon. Friend and myself for the accounting for the Vote should be discharged, not separately for England and Scotland through our two Departments, but through this single body.
§ 24. Sir A. HOLBROOKasked the Home Secretary if he is aware that Miss Hewitson, the lessee of the Crown Hotel at Wigton, near Carlisle, has been given notice by the State Management Committee to quit at Whitsuntide, though the licence has been in the hands of her family for 57 years without a single complaint; that this house has been purchased by the State Management Committee, in spite of the recommendation of the National Expenditure Committee that the acquisition of further licensed premises should cease; and whether he will have the matter reconsidered?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe notice referred to was given in October last with a view merely, as explained to the tenant at the time, to enable a slight alteration to be made in the terms of her tenancy, which is an annual one terminable only by six months' notice expiring at Whitsuntide. As to the second part of the question, the house has not been purchased; I hold it on a lease which was concluded by the Central Control Board before the abolition of the Board and before the Committee on National Expenditure had been appointed.
§ Sir A. HOLBROOKIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this woman is in great trouble owing to her removal from the house in which she has earned her living for many years past?
§ Mr. SHORTTI am quite sure she is not, as she is not going to he removed.