Trade blow as new bill is pushed through

The government has completely disregarded the industry's concerns over the biggest changes to licensing since the First World War.

Industry bodies claim the government has pushed the Licensing Bill through Parliament without full consultation or debate.

Nick Bish, chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, said: "We are disillusioned with the process of consultation on the Licensing Bill. The working groups were supposed to help the drafting of the bill and input into government thinking.

"Instead they have been a talking shop with the government riding roughshod over entirely sensible and helpful suggestions."

The government should have spent less time explaining and justifying its stance, argued Mr Bish (pictured)​. "If it had spent more time really listening to genuine concerns, then it wouldn't be facing the situation it is now, where badly drafted legislation - which satisfies no-one - is about to be adopted," he said.

"Even at this late stage, it is not too late for it to wake up, take a deep breath and acknowledge that it is wrong on certain points."

Rob Hayward, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, has also spoken out.

"We are being ignored by government," he said. "The police, local authorities, pub companies and licensees are all agreed that a register of interests is a simple and sensible system for tackling problem pubs."

Under the current system a pub company can register an interest on the licence so that if there are any problems with the way the business is being run it can be involved in finding a solution.

But under the new system in the Licensing Bill, pub-owning companies will not be able to register an interest and the licensee will be in full charge of the premises licence. However, as this article was posted rumours were circulating that the House of Lords could dig its heels in over the Licensing Bill.

Many members of the House of Lords, who are due to discuss the bill today (Thursday), are up in arms because a large number of their amendments were overturned by the government.

The House of Lords is considering making a stand over the registration of interests and insiders have indicated that the government could be willing to back down over this issue to get the bill through.

The relationship between the two houses is already strained following Tony Blair's decision to get rid of the Lord Chancellor in his Cabinet reshuffle.

The bill could be stuck between the two houses in a ping-pong battle as they attempt to compromise over some essential amendments.

Switch from old to new​

The transition period is expected to be 14 to 18 months.

Following publication of the national guidance, licensing authorities will begin to write their new policy statements.

Following Royal Assent, which is expected next month, there will be:

• a six-month period following approval of guidance, during which the licensing authorities will prepare a statement, including consultation, analysis and production of the final draft
• a further six months during which applications for "grandfather" rights may be made
• two to four months to allow decisions to be made on converted licences.

Related articles:​

Provisional licences U-turn (19 June 2003)

New minister for licensing is appointed (16 June 2003)