Purnell on the pub trade as Publican Newspaper hits 30

Licensing minister James Purnell has hailed the Licensing Act as the biggest development in the pub industry for the last 30 years.

Responding to The Publican Newspaper's 30th birthday questionnaire, Mr Purnell, who has been standing up to a media onslaught about the new regime in recent weeks, said the importance of the Act should not be underestimated.

"The Act gives publicans the flexibility to run their businesses to suit the needs of their customers," he said. "It will lead to a significant reduction in red tape and bureaucracy in the long run and gives police tougher powers to deal with the irresponsible minority, while allowing the responsible majority of pubs to get on with building their business."

The licensing minister picked fellow Labour MP John Grogan, the chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, as the person who has had the biggest impact on the pub trade in the past 30 years.

"He knows the industry inside out and campaigns tirelessly for the interests of publicans on a whole range of issues," Mr Purnell said.

The challenge for the next 30 years was for the industry to provide a "modern, high-class service that rivals our hospitality competitors in Europe" and to meet the "increased expectation that the industry must take its share of responsibility in tackling alcohol-related crime and disorder".

And in a special message for The Publican Newspaper on its 30th birthday he said: "Keep up the good work informing your readers of the significant changes to the law affecting pubs in the lead up to November 24!

"In the face of often hostile media coverage, don't lose sight of the fact that the vast majority of publicans are highly responsible people."