§ Mr. LYONSasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that during the year 1934 the number of new clubs registered was 1,309, and the net increase in the number of registered clubs was 358, he can state how many of the 951 clubs that ceased to exist in 1934 were struck off for offence; what were the main categories of offences and, approximately, how many were struck off in each category; and whether the proportion of clubs that are struck off the register as the result of offences is on the increase?
§ Sir J. SIMONAs shown in Table V of the Licensing Statistics for 1934, which were published yesterday, the number of clubs struck off the register in 1934 following prosecutions for offences was 197. According to the available information, the grounds for striking off in the bulk of the cases were that illegal sales of intoxicating liquor had taken place on the club premises, or that the club was not conducted in good faith as a club, or was kept or habitually used for an unlawful purpose. It is not possible to give the detailed particulars asked for in this connection. As regards the last part of the question, I have not sufficient information on which to base an accurate comparison with past years. As explained in the Introduction to the Licensing Statistics for 1934, the corresponding figure published in previous years in fact included a number of clubs struck off the register merely because they had ceased to exist.