§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the warning by magistrates in Liverpool and 1857W elsewhere of the danger of supplying liquor to motorists; and whether he would be prepared, by departmental circular or otherwise, to advise licensing magistrates that a suitable condition for the grant or renewal of a licence would be the pro-minent display in the rooms and bars where motorists are able to get drink of injunction of the Minister of Transport and of the British Medical Association that it should be left entirely alone before and during driving?
§ Mr. LLOYDMy right hon. Friend has made inquiry and understands that the chairman of the Liverpool Licensing Bench did not do more than express the opinion that licensees have some moral duties in connection with the supply of liquor to motorists, and that they should be watchful of such of their customers who they know are in charge or are likely to be in charge of motors. He has no information as to any similar statements made by other benches of magistrates.
As regards the second part of the question, my right hon. Friend could not undertake to issue advice to licensing benches on the lines suggested by the hon. Member. He would point out that licensing justices have no power to impose conditions on the renewal of licences and that the number of new on-licences granted each year represents a very small proportion of the total.