§ Order of the Day for receiving the Report of Amendments, read.
§ LORD PARMOORMy Lords, when this Bill was before your Lordships in Committee the noble Lord opposite, Lord Harris, and the noble Earl, Lord Loreburn, called attention to a provision which allowed children to go upon the premises of an "improved public-house," and I promised on that occasion to amend the clause in the direction that they desired. I shall therefore to-day move an Amendment to provide that notwithstanding any prohibition of the presence of children upon licensed premises contained in any Act for the time being in force, the licensing justices may by Order sanction the admission of children to any portion of premises to which an "improved public-house" certificate is attached if they consider that children can be so admitted without harm, but subject to any conditions which may be specified in the Order. That is in accordance with the undertaking that I gave when the Bill was in Committee, and I hope it will meet the views of my noble friend Lord Harris.
§ Moved, That this Report be now received.—(Lord Parmoor.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.
§ Children on Licensed Premises.
§ 4. No prohibition of the presence of children upon licensed premises contained in any Act for the time being in force shall apply to premises to which an "improved public-house" certificate is attached.
§
Amendment moved—
Leave out Clause 4 and insert the following new clause:
§ "Admission of children to an improved public house."
§ "4. Notwithstanding any prohibition of the presence of children upon Licensed premises contained in any Act for the time being in force, the licensing justices may by order sanction the 941 admission of children to any portion of premises to which an 'improved public-house' certificate is attached if they consider that children can be so admitted without harm, but subject to any conditions which may be specified in the order."—(Lord Parmoor.)
LORD HARRISMy Lords, I cannot see why it should not be possible for the licensing Justices to impose such conditions as should be satisfactory—that is, for the exclusion of children from that part of the house where the sale of intoxicants takes place. As a matter of fact, we know now some licensed premises where the improved conditions actually exist. I could name several within easy reach of this Chamber, where children are admitted to that portion of the premises in which tea is served. Therefore I think it perfectly possible for the justices to impose these conditions and to take care that access to the portion of the house where intoxicants are sold is of such a character as to prevent children going in there. I raise no objection.
§ On Question, Amendment agreed to.