§ The Earl of KIMBERLEYasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will explain the discrepancy in the figures of the Licensing Compensation Fund, which the Erroll Committee quoted in December 1972 as £4.2 million, but Her Majesty's Government stated on 20th July 1978 as £3.8 million.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, HOME OFFICE (Lord Harris of Greenwich)The figure of £3.8 million which my noble friend Lord Wells-Pestell mentioned on 20th July was based on the annual returns received from compensation authorities, which show a total of £,796,861.54 held in the funds on 31st December 1976, the latest date for which information is at present available. Returns received in 1972 showed a total of £3,384,630.68 held on 31st December 1971. I am inquiring into the basis of the larger figure quoted by the Erroll Committee, and I will write to the noble Earl when I am able to let him have some information on that point.