Bill has long road ahead

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Months of debate in store after draft bill is announcedby David Clifton of thePublican.com's legal team of experts from London solicitors Joelson...

Months of debate in store after draft bill is announced

by David Clifton of thePublican.com's legal team of experts from London solicitors Joelson Wilson

At least Prince Philip allowed himself a smile as he and the Queen walked slowly out of the House of Lords following his wife's speech to Parliament.

David Dimbleby said on TV that it was a solemn occasion and that Liz and Phil (my words not his) would be impassive in their demeanour.

Nevertheless I reckon that the Duke was smiling about the prospects of deep debate on licensing reform still to come in the months ahead.

One had only to take a peek at this site to see the interest generated by the much-anticipated news that licensing reform is definitely on the cards. The piece on the speech had attracted 670 hits at 2.45pm, 1,568 at 4pm and 2,207 at 5.30pm. Have a look to see how many now!

The draft bill itself has been in circulation for a couple of days now. We will be letting you have a detailed analysis of the bill over the coming weeks. We will be closely examining whether the bill and, just as importantly the draft guidance, will between them fulfil the promises made by Kim Howells, the licensing minister, to Ted Tuppen of Enterprise Inns in June, namely:

  • Less regulation, not more
  • Local authorities operating within national guidelines
  • A personal licence holder being able to run any pub without further formalities
  • No increase in costs to the average pub.

As Nick Bish of ALMR has said: "The devil will be in the detail." I have to admit that I have concerns that further work is necessary to ensure that each of the above promises will in fact be fulfilled. That said, reform is clearly required to achieve the streamlining of the licensing system to which the Queen referred and to bring about benefits for customers, the industry and the public alike.

Finally, let us not forget other comments in the speech that will affect your industry:

  • New measures to address anti-social behaviour affecting communities
  • Speeding up of the planning system
  • The importance of work as a focus of the social security system.

Related articles:

Kim Howells comments on licensing reform bill (15 November 2002)

Reaction from the industry to licensing reform announcement (14 November 2002)

Public opinion on announcement of relaxed licening laws (14 November 2002)

The changes new licensing laws will bring and when (14 November 2002)

Licensing reform announced in Queen's Speech (13 November 2002)

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