Government pledges commitment to licensing reform White Paper
The Government has confirmed its intention to transfer licensing control to local authorities, despite opposition from the trade.
But Government minister Dr Kim Howells has reassured the industry that licensing reform is still a priority.
In a letterto thePublican.com, Dr Howells, the junior minister in charge of licensing, wrote: "We stand by the proposals published by the then Home Secretary in the White Paper Time for Reform. They include the proposal for more flexible licensing hours and the transfer of control of alcohol licensing to local authorities."
In the Publican's Market Report 2001, a survey of more than 1,000 licensees, just eight per cent said they were in favour of control passing to local authorities.
Stuart Neame, vice chairman of Kent brewer Shepherd Neame, has been working with JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin to fight the proposals.
He said he was disappointed that the Government had dropped the idea of deregulation which could reform hours without changing licensing control and which was said to have the support of licensing minister Tessa Jowell.
"Deregulation means reform jumps the queue," Mr Neame said. "It does all the things that are uncontroversial, such as reforming hours or changing the rules for public entertainment licences, without addressing the more complex issues, such as control, which will delay reform."
He said he and his supporters would keep pressing for deregulation, despite the Government's commitment to the White Paper.
Licensing reform was dealt a blow when the issue was left out of the Queen's Speech in June. Trade leaders feared the omission could mean reform being delayed by as much as two years.
Dr Howells, who will make his first formal address to the trade at The Publican Conference on November 1, said he shared the licensed trade's disappointment that he could not include an Alcohol and Entertainment Bill in the Queen's Speech this year.
He added: "We remain determined to reform the alcohol and public entertainment licensing laws by introducing a bill as soon as Parliamentary time allows."
The Brewers and Licensed Retailers Association's chief executive, Rob Hayward, has written to Dr Howells, asking for a "clear statement" from the Government.
Mr Hayward said he wants to see the licensing law working party reconvene, the introduction of steering groups and an update on the progress of the draft bill.
He wrote: "There is growing concern throughout the leisure and hospitality sector that delay may indicate a fundamental change of heart on the part of the Government. I believe the time has come for the Government to issue a clear statement on how it intends to carry forward and deliver on its commitment to licensing reform."
North of the border, the Scottish executive has formed a committee of trade leaders, police and health experts, to review Scotland's licensing laws.
Read Dr Howell's letterto thePublican.com in full
The Publican's Market Report 2001 is available now in full.
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