HC Deb 21 November 1957 vol 578 cc544-5
17. Dr. D. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the reasons for his refusal of the application for an off-licence for the sale of beer, wine, and spirits made by Mrs. Margaret Cheetham, of 9 Blackwell Road, Carlisle.

Mr. R. A. Butler

After careful consideration of Mrs. Cheetham's application, in consultation with the Local Advisory Committee and the State Management Districts Council, I did not feel justified in making an exception in this instance from the established policy that the sale of liquor in Carlisle should, in general, be confined to the State Management Scheme.

Dr. Johnson

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is room in the City of Carlisle for private off-licences of this nature to supplement the service given under the State Management Scheme? Will he consider seriously the possibility of modifying the scheme?

Mr. Butler

There- is power for the Secretary of State to authorise the sale of liquor by persons other than through the State Management Scheme in Carlisle, and we did make an exception for Carrow House, a country hotel. Mrs. Cheetham's application was on behalf of the inhabitants of Currock, and even had we granted the application the inhabitants of Currock would have had to take a considerable journey in order to obtain the facilities which they desired at Mrs. Cheetham's establishment. We therefore thought it right not to accede to it.