HC Deb 22 May 1958 vol 588 cc1476-8
14 Mr. Simmons

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) the sources other than licensed premises from which 245 persons under 18 years of age convicted for drunkenness in the years 1954 to 1956 are known to have obtained intoxicating liquor;

(2) what efforts were made to find out the source from which intoxicating liquor was supplied to the 1,192 cases of persons under 18 years of age convicted for drunkenness in 1954–56 in respect of which the source is unknown;

(3) if he will consider the appointment of a committee to inquire into the problems created by the increase in the consumption of intoxicating liquor by persons under 18 years of age, into sources of supply, and methods of tracing the sources.

Mr. R. A. Butler

The known sources, other than on licensed premises, were: friends or domestic sources, 110; off-sales shops, 44; dance halls, 38; clubs, 19; miscellaneous, 34. The figures are incomplete because they are derived from police records which do not necessarily include information about the source of the liquor. As previously stated, I am considering ways of obtaining more information about the problem, but I do not contemplate the appointment of a committee of inquiry.

Mr. Simmons

Can the Home Secretary tell us whether there has been any reduction in the number of cases arising as a result of visits to dance halls since the Bill introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Salford, West (Mr. Royle) came into effect? Secondly, as this is such an important question for social workers, is the Home Secretary adamant upon the question of appointing a committee? There are authorities which would be very useful, such as the Christian Citizenship Council of the Methodist Churches, the Salvation Army, and other social workers' organisations. Their assistance in this matter would be invaluable to the right hon. Gentleman who. I know, is as concerned about this question as we are.

Mr. Butler

Yes. At the moment we do not think that a committee of inquiry is necessary, but if the hon. Member were to send me any information I should be glad to consider it.

Mr. Anthony Greenwood

As the report of a Government inquiry would almost certainly end up in the pigeonholes of the Home Office, could not the right hon. Gentleman try to persuade some independent body, such as the Nuffield Foundation, to conduct an investigation into the problem of drunkenness in all its aspects?

Mr. Butler

Having examined the pigeon-holes more recently than the hon. Member, I do not accept the first part of his supplementary question. As for the second part, I shall certainly accept any information given to me by the Nuffield Trust, or anybody else—and I shall place it on my desk and not in a hole.