§ 2. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the considerable increase in 1962 in the number of people convicted of being drunk and incapable, he will set up a committee to inquire into the working of the licensing laws; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeI am not convinced that the increase has any necessary connection with the working of the licensing laws, though I would naturally be ready to consider any evidence submitted to me.
§ Mr. ThomasIn view of the concern which the Home Secretary must have about the increase of 10,000 in convictions for drunkenness last year, and since those figures, hiding behind the statistics of criminal offences and personal ruin, are the highest since 1910, will the right hon. Gentleman tell the Housewhat he has in mind for dealing with this problem? Is he looking at the problem of advertising, or is he doing nothing at all?
§ Mr. BrookeI have great concern about this, but the hon. Member is suggesting that this is in some way connected with the recent Licensing Act. In fact, we are seeing the working out of a trend which began some time before that Measure was enacted.
§ Mr. ThomasIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the lengthened hours have led to this increase of 10,000? If he does not attribute the increase in drunkenness to the lengthened hours under the last Act, to what does he attribute it?
§ Mr. BrookeI have said that I should be very ready to consider any specific information submitted to me by the hon. Member or anybody else, but I really think that is is too early to ask the House to consider amending an Act which was passed so recently.