Licensees are growing increasingly impatient with licensing minister Richard Caborn's apparent reluctance to address the trade over the forthcoming Licensing Act.
The minister (pictured), who took over responsibility for licensing in June, has so far failed to talk to the industry and allay fears about the implementation of the new licensing regime.
Mr Caborn, who was set to make his first appearance in the industry at last year's Publican Conference, cancelled at the last minute to attend the Rugby World Cup instead.
Licensee Pete Harrison of the Unicorn Inn, in Leek, Staffordshire, said: "We haven't really got a clue what is going on. We are finding it frustrating.
"Government ministers like Richard Caborn step into these posts and don't know what they are talking about.
"We don't even know what hours we can apply for.
"Due to the lack of information and guidance local authorities are going to start to make their own rules and won't have time to consult with the trade."
Only last week Westminster City Council branded the final version of the national guidance as "legally suspect and a virtually useless collection of bland statements that have no practical application".
A poll on thePublican.com at the end of last year revealed that 41 per cent of licensees were unsure of what they should be doing to meet the requirements of the act. And 26 per cent were still waiting to be contacted by their local council.
Peter Walker, licensee of the Chequers Inn in Harrogate, Yorkshire, said: "We can't find anything out. I can't get any sense out of anyone - I keep expecting a flyer explaining what will happen, but nothing arrives. I also go to Pubwatch meetings and it is quite plain that the police have no idea what is going on."
Mark Hastings, director of communications at the British Beer & Pub Association, added: "There is a total lack of clarity about the timetable and what we are going to do and when. The industry is in limbo and everyone is looking for some direction."
Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Associations, said: "We need to get the message across to all licensees but things have been delayed because the guidance is still waiting to go through Parliament."
Mr Caborn refuted the accusations. He said: "Since the summer I have met and listened to the views of a large number of trade organisations and licensing stakeholders. We will table the guidance before Parliament shortly. And we will also publish regulations concerning fees, forms and hearings in the near future.
"I appreciate the thirst for information from anyone affected by the licensing reforms.
"We will be sending information about the reforms directly to licensees over the coming months."
The DCMS is also launching new licensing pages on its website. Go to www.culture.gov.uk for further information. The Publican has been granted an interview with Mr Caborn in February to discuss the new Licensing Act.
Latest timetable for reform
- January 2004 - national guidance to be presented to Parliament and approved by both Houses
- Once guidance has been approved by Parliament, local authorities are to begin preparing their policy statements
- Approximately six months after Parliament approves the guidance local authorities begin processing applications
- Nine months later the old licensing regime is replaced.
Help from the BBPA
Licensees can access their local authorities' draft licensing policies on the new British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) website.
Under the terms of the new Licensing Act each local authority is required to write its own licensing policy. Although they are required to write their policy following the rules set down in the national guidance many have already published their first drafts.
Mark Hastings, director of communication, for the BBPA said: "It is vitally important for everyone in our sector to have as much information as possible on local policies.
"It's even more vital for people in the trade to use this information to get involved and respond to their local authorities through the consultation period."
Go to www.beerandpub.com for details.
DCMS spending
It cost the government £44,000 to send Richard Caborn and culture secretary Tessa Jowell to Australia for the Rugby World Cup.
And nearly £7,000 was spent on Christmas parties by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The department, headed by culture secretary Ms Jowell, also spent a further £1,587 on Christmas cards.