HC Deb 01 May 1913 vol 52 cc1387-8W
Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will grant the Return standing on to-day's Paper in the name of the Member for East Worcestershire?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

The Return moved for by the right hon. Gentleman is in continuation of a Return granted at his request last year, and I think that some explanation is due as to why it cannot be given in the same form this year. The proceeds of Liquor Licence Duties were recorded for administrative counties and county boroughs in England and Wales for the first time in 1889 for the purpose of paying over the proceeds to the Local Taxation Accounts for those areas under the provisions of Section 20 of the Local Government (England and Wales) Act, 1888. But under Section 88 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, the amounts to be paid into Local Taxation Accounts in respect of Liquor Licence Duties were determined by the proceeds of those duties for the year 1908–9. Consequently, it was no longer necessary to keep records of Liquor Licences in administrative areas in England and Wales, and, after full consideration, the keeping of such records, which involved a great deal of statistical detail and departmental labour, was discontinued from 31st March, 1912. Separate totals of numbers of licences and estimated yield of the duties thereon for 1912–13 for England and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland could be furnished; and if the right hon. Gentleman would like to have a Return on these lines, I shall be very happy to give it. Perhaps he will confer with me as to the precise form of the Return.