HC Deb 20 July 1933 vol 280 cc2029-30

5.6 p.m.

Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAM

I beg to move, in page 14, line 32, after the word "unless," to insert the words: he is satisfied, after holding a public inquiry, if the holder of the licence requests him so to do, that. After the almost defeat of the Government, I am glad to say that this is an Amendment to which I feel no one will object, and which should certainly gain the admiration of the right hon. Gentleman opposite. In Committee it was felt that, in a case where the question was one vast majority of cases, inquiries will be held in public, but, on the other hand, it may be private in certain cases, in order to save the applicant the unnecessary expense to which otherwise he would be put. With regard to the other point put by the hon. and learned Gentleman, I am not sure, after hearing what he said, that the case that he, cited was very much to the point. In order that it should be put beyond the possibility of doubt that these inquiries may be held in public, I am prepared in another place to insert words to that effect.

Question put, "That those words be there inserted in the Bill."

The House divided: Ayes, 32; Noes, 39.

Division No. 275] AYES. [5.0 p.m.
Bevan, Aneurin (Ebbw Vale) Hall, George H. (Merthyr Tydvil) Maclean, Nell (Glasgow. Govan)
Brown, C. W. E. (Notts., Mansfield) Healy, Cahir Mainwaring, William Henry
Cape, Thomas Hirst, George Henry Price, Gabriel
Cocks, Frederick Seymour Johnstone, Harcourt (S. Shields) Rantoul, Sir Gervais S.
Cove. William G. Jones, Morgan (Caerphilly) Salter, Dr. Alfred
Cowan, D. M. Kirkwood, David Smith, Tom (Normanton)
Cripps, Sir Stafford Lansbury, Rt. Hon. George Tinker, John Joseph
Dagger, George Lawson, John James Williams, Edward John (Ogmore)
Graham, D. M. (Lanark, Hamilton) Leonard, William
Grenfell, David Rees (Glamorgan) Logan, David Gilbert TELLERS FOR THE AYES.—
Grundy, Thomas W. Macdonald, Gordon (Ince) Mr. McKeag and Mr. Aled Roberts.
Guy, J. C. Morrison McEntee, Valentine L.
NOES.
Baillie, Sir Adrian W. M. Gault, Lieut.-Col. A. Hamilton Powell, Lieut.-Col. Evelyn G. H.
Beaumont, M. W. (Bucks., Aylesbury) Greene, William P. C. Ross Taylor, Welter (Woodbridge)
Beaumont, Hon. R.E.B. (Portsm'th, C.) Harbord, Arthur Somervell, Donald Bradley
Boothby, Robert John Graham Headlam, Lieut.-Col. Cuthbert M. Spender-Clay, Rt. Hon. Herbert H.
Brocklebank, C. E, R. Inskip, Rt. Hon. Sir Thomas W. H. Stanley, Hon. O. F. G. (Westmorland)
Brown, Col. D. C. (N'th'l'd., Hexham) Kerr, Lieut.-Col. Charles (Montrose) Strauss, Edward A.
Buchan-Hepburn, P. G. T. Lamb, Sir Joseph Quinton Titchfield, Major the Marquess of
Dawson, Sir Philip Law, Richard K. (Hull, S.W.) Wallace, Captain D. E. (Hornsey)
Doran, Edward Mabane, William Ward, Lt.-Col. Sir A. L. (Hull)
Elliot, Major Rt. Hon. Walter E. Margesson, Capt. Rt. Hon. H. D. R. Weymouth, Viscount
Everard, W. Lindsay Petherick, M.
Foot, Isaac (Cornwall, Bodmin) Peto, Sir Basil E. (Devon, Barnstaple) TELLERS FOR THE NOES.—
Ford, Sir Patrick J. Pike, Cecil F. Captain Austin Hudson and
Galbraith, James Francis Wallace Potter, John Commander Southby.

of revocation or suspension of a licence, the licensing authority should hold a public inquiry, and the Minister, while not feeling that it would be possible to make that a compulsory obligation upon the licensing authority, yet saw the desirability of changing slightly the terms of the Clause. Accordingly, this Amendment has been put down, and I hope it will satisfy hon. Members who are anxious for publicity.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made: In page 14, line 36, leave out from the first word "the" to the end of the line.—[Mr. Stanley.]