Pub legislation could be scrapped due to general election

It is expected that parliament will be dissolved on Wednesday 3 May so any legislation expected to receive Royal Assent after this date will fall.

According to the House of Commons website, public bills can’t be carried over through a dissolution. There is likely to be a ‘wash-up’ period that takes place when the Government and the opposition reach agreements on full bills or parts of bills that should be hurried through their remaining parliamentary scrutiny.

The Neighbourhood Planning Bill is close to being given Royal Assent. It is currently at “ping pong” where amendments are finalised between both houses. The bill is due before parliament on Tuesday 25 April and thought likely to be passed. This will include the permitted development rights amendment that addressed concerns on the “planning loophole”, which saw developers and big chains demolish or change the use of pubs without planning permission.

A question has been raised over the process of the Finance Bill of which the sugar levy on drinks is part. It is currently at committee stage which will be discussed on 25 April 2017 but thought unlikely to receive Royal Assent before 2 May.

An announcement from the Government was also expected to be made on the stake and prizes allowed on AWP machines but this is likely to be stalled until after the election. 

British Beer & Pub Association public affairs director David Wilson said: “We are not expecting the Neighbourhood Planning Bill to be affected by the general election because the key decisions on the primary legislation have already been made. There will obviously be some delay in the secondary legislation and we would be looking for the Government to move quickly on this.”