§ Mr. Hillasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to extend the hours of opening for public houses in England and Wales to a level comparable with opening hours in Scotland.
§ Mr. MellorWe shall want to examine the full report of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys' study of consumption of alcohol in Scotland, together with other relevant information, before deciding whether relaxations should be introduced in the permitted opening hours of licensed premises in England and Wales. We understand that the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys' report is to be published early next year.