Government confirms Welsh pubs won't get World Cup licensing extension

01-May-2014 - Last updated on 02-May-2014 at 08:30 GMT

The Government has once again refused to change its position

The Government has refused to back down on its decision to only allow licensing extensions to English pubs during the World Cup.

In March, the Government agreed to allow pubs a four-hour licensing extension to a maximum of 1am during England’s World Cup matches.

However, despite 77% of those consulted saying they would like to see the extension to include Wales, the Government has once again refused to change its position.

On Wednesday (30 April) Vale of Glamorgan MP Alun Cairns asked Home Office minister if he would consider allowing Wales the same dispensation.

Relaxation

Baker responded: “While a majority of Welsh respondents favoured a relaxation for England and Wales, there was a difference between English and Welsh respondents about how the relaxation might be delivered. There was a clear majority of Welsh respondents who favoured using the Temporary Event Notice system, rather than a blanket relaxation, while of English respondents the majority (74%) favoured a blanket relaxation.

"This is consistent with what the Government has opted to do: a national blanket relaxation in England, with licensed premises able to use the Temporary Event Notice system in Wales.”

England's first World Cup match is on Saturday 14 June, kicking off at 11.00pm.