HC Deb 08 December 1955 vol 547 cc536-7
15. Mr. Royle

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation whereby intoxicants may not be obtained in dance and public halls by boys and girls under the age of 18, as in the case of public houses.

Major Lloyd-George

An occasional licence for the sale of intoxicating liquor on unlicensed premises may only be granted with the consent of the justices, and my information is that this enables the justices to exercise an effective measure of control. Should there be substantial evidence to the contrary, however, I should certainly be ready to consider legislation.

Mr. Royle

Would the right hon. and gallant Gentleman agree that there are a great number of anomalies in the licensing law? Does not he think the time has come when he might introduce a Miscellaneous Provisions Bill to cover many of them? In reference to what the right hon. and gallant Gentleman said to my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson), is it not a fact that the figures he gave are based on convictions and that there are many cases of disturbances of this kind which never reach the courts?

Major Lloyd-George

I would not dispute that. The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that it is not always easy to obtain precise information about this sort of thing. I have made such inquiries as are open to me and have given the best information available, and I am prepared to look at the matter.

Mr. Royle

Would the Minister answer my supplementary question?

Major Lloyd-George

I have given the hon. Gentleman an answer; if there is substantial evidence to the contrary, I will consider legislation.

Mr. Ede

Does the first answer of the Home Secretary mean that unless the justices insert a condition in the occasional licence that persons under eighteen shall not be served, it is legal for the person holding the occasional licence to serve them?

Major Lloyd-George

No. I had in mind that there was a remedy. If there were occasions of misconduct of that sort, the remedy would be in the hands of the justices when it came to issuing licences in the future.