Kim Howells on...
The effect of the bill on licensees:
"Life will be made easier for licence holders and premises managers. A huge amount of administrative and legal overheads will be swept away by removing the need for licensing hearings in the vast majority of cases. The new premises licence will last for the lifetime of an individual business unless it is revoked or surrendered. "Licence holders will be put in the driving seat. They will have a greater say over the licensing of their business. It will be up to the individual business to make decisions about the services they provide to consumers. This means they will have greater freedom to make the choices that will make them more competitive."
Cuts in red tape:
"The reduction in red tape will deliver savings to the industry of £1.97bn over the first 10 years of operation. The reforms will cut bureaucracy by the introduction of a single, integrated scheme that streamlines procedures for applications, renewals and variations. This will result in reduced legal and administrative costs, because in the vast majority of cases applications would not require a hearing. A consistent and central system of cost-recovery fees will reduce longer term expenditure."
The introduction of personal licences:
"This will deliver much greater management flexibility for the industry. As a rule, hearings will no longer be needed to change the manager of particular licensed premises."
Benefits to the consumer:
"Greater flexibility in opening hours means greater choice about where or when they can enjoy a drink and a meal."
Related articles:
Reaction from the industry to licensing reform announcement (14 November 2002)
Public opinion on announcement of relaxed licening laws (14 November 2002)
The changes new licensing laws will bring and when (14 November 2002)
Licensing reform announced in Queen's Speech (13 November 2002)
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