48. Dr. Salterasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Commissioners of Customs and Excise still lodge objection in the licensing courts against the grant of removal licences where drinking facilities are transferred from an old house to new premises in a modern housing estate; whether objection will be lodged in all such instances, in view of the declared intention of the brewers to apply for removal licences on the largest possible scale; and whether an estimate can be made of the loss to the Exchequer during the last five years of the monopoly value which the owners of licensed premises have avoided paying by these means?
§ The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir John Simon)With regard to the first and second parts of the question, the Commissioners make representations in suitable cases as to the manner in which licensing justices should exercise the discretion given them by the law, but in some instances it is obvious that representations would be either nugatory or inexpedient. With regard to the third part, I am afraid that information is not available for such an estimate.
Dr. SalterIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in three cases this year in Liverpool, the Treasury lost £26,000, £20,000, and £24,000, respectively, in monopoly value?
§ Sir J. SimonI was not aware of that, and if the hon. Member will give me the instances to which he refers, I shall be glad to look into them.
Dr. SalterIs the right hon. Gentleman also aware that in one particular case the evidence in court was to the effect that the owners would refrain from asking for compensation from the corporation if the corporation would assist them to dodge payment of monopoly value to the Treasury?