Mr. GRAHAM WHITEasked whether the Home Secretary's attention has been called to the fact that, as an undesigned consequence of Section 15 (1) of the Licensing Act, 1921, there has been a, considerable increase in the Excise licences issued for the sale of wines and spirits in bottles under Section 11 (1) of the Licensing (Consolidation) Act, 1910; whether his attention has been called to the remarks of the chairman of the Liverpool and Wallasey Licensing Committees, at the recent general annual licensing meetings, to the effect that all applications for licences should first come before the justices and that Section 111 (1) of the Licensing (Consolidation) Act, 1910, should be repealed; and whether it is proposed to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI do not think that the statement as to a considerable increase of the licences in question is borne out by any information in my possession: but I am aware of the opinion of various licensing benches to the effect of the second part of the question. I cannot hold out any prospect of legislation on the subject at present.