Industry reaction to licensing reform plans due

Related tags Licensing reform Legislature

Trade reaction to the Government's legal guidelines for drafting the licensing reform bill is due to be submitted on Monday (March 18).The 50-page...

Trade reaction to the Government's legal guidelines for drafting the licensing reform bill is due to be submitted on Monday (March 18).

The 50-page Government document, known as the "drafting instructions", was circulated to leading trade bodies earlier this year and ministers have asked for feedback so that they can begin drafting the licensing bill in time for this year's Queen's Speech, expected in November.

The drafting instructions give legal guidelines for those drawing up the bill and trade leaders are keen to clarify the detail with the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) before licensing minister Kim Howells finalises plans for the legislation.

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) is in the process of finalising its response. Spokesman Martin Rawlings said: "This is a legal document and is open to interpretation and we are just working to clarify the meaning.

"At the moment, the way the legislative programme looks we can get licensing through in this Queen's Speech so it is important we get the detail right."

A spokeswoman for the DCMS confirmed that discussion with interested parties was ongoing but added that the drafting instructions related to legal matters and would not form part of the legislation itself.

"We have asked key stakeholders to look at the legal framework that needs to be used to produce the bill but we do not yet have a slot for the bill in the legislative timetable," she said.

Even if the reform bill is included in this year's Queen's Speech it is unlikely that the legislation will come into effect until 2004 at the earliest.

Details expected in the bill include plans to move licensing control to local authorities, dual licensing (one licence for the individual and one for the premises) and an operating plan for each outlet setting out details of opening hours and type of operation.

Related topics Licensing law

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