§ 10. Mr. CECIL WILSONasked the Home Secretary in how many cases during the past 10 years licensed premises have been removed from the register and have subsequently been occupied as registered clubs?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI regret that I do not possess this information. All available information is given in the Annual Volumes of Licensing Statistics, from which it appears that in the 10 years between January, 1916, and January, 1925, on-licensed premises decreased by 5,469 and clubs increased by 3,260.
§ 11. Mr. C. WILSONasked the Home Secretary whether he can state for the past 10 years the number of clubs struck off the registers; the offences for which they were struck off; the number of individuals convicted; and the amount of the fines imposed?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI regret that the information asked for in the second and fourth items of this question is not available. Information as to the other two items is shown in the Annual Volumes of Licensing Statistics, to which I would refer the hon. Member.
Mr. BECKETTDo the figures not show that clubs are an advantage in this respect over the ordinary public houses?
Viscountess ASTORIs it not true very often that when you shut up a public house a good many clubs are at once opened?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI do not think the figures I have given show that to be the case.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it not a fact that the police in nearly all districts of England are satisfied that the general conduct of working men's clubs is of a very high level indeed?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThere is no evidence to the contrary at all.
§ Mr. W. THORNEDoes the Home Secretary remember that the Kit-Cat Club was one of those struck off the 2151 register, and that Lord Birkenhead was found in that club when they were "pinched"?
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that local authorities prefer the open public house, under supervision, to clubs, which are outside supervision?