HC Deb 21 June 1955 vol 542 cc58-9W
Sir A. Bossom

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the statutory term "monopoly value," as used by licensing authorities for the payment made by licensees of public houses when taking over a new house is misleading as there is in fact no monopoly; and whether he will take steps to amend the Licensing Acts to enable a different term to be used.

Major Lloyd-George

The sum payable on the grant of a new justices' on-licence, representing the difference between the value of the premises when licensed and their value unlicensed, has been described as "monopoly value" by Licensing Acts since 1904. Opinions may differ as to the aptness of the description, but I do not consider that there is sufficient ground for introducing legislation to alter it.