§ Mr. HAROLD SMITHasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the fact that for many months in the county borough of Warrington retailers licensed for the sale of tobacco only open their shops for a very limited period each day, with the result that every evening workers desiring to purchase tobacco are compelled, after their day's work, to stand in queues for long periods awaiting the opening of the shops; and whether, having regard to the fact that retailers are licensed by the 887W Treasury, he will intimate to such licensees that they must study the convenience of the public and give them more reasonable opportunities of purchase?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am afraid this is not a matter in which I can intervene. Under the existing law there is no power to impose any conditions as to hours of opening in connection with the grant of a licence. I have, however, made inquiries and am informed that the conditions described in the question do not now exist generally, though a few tobacconists still close at certain hours of the day. I gather that there is not now any particular shortage of tobacco, but certain brands of cigarettes are very scarce, and queues form outside certain shops at hours when it is known that these brands will be on sale to the general public.