Licensing minister hits out at his critics

Richard Caborn, the minister responsible for licensing, has refuted claims that he has failed to speak to the trade about licensing. In an exclusive interview with The Publican he has dismissed accusations that he has been reluctant to talk to the trade about the new regime and says he is "hopeful" that the full details of the national guidance and fees will be available in the next few weeks.

At the end of January licensees said they were growing increasingly impatient with the minister for failing to allay their fears about the new system. They were concerned about the lack of information and the whereabouts of the national guidance.

Mr Caborn said: "Hopefully within the next few weeks we will be presenting the national guidance to Parliament and when that happens we can start the process.

"I have met every single organisation in this trade since July. They have all been reasonably pleased in the way that we have approached this in trying to have meaningful consultations."

However, in a recent Parliamentary debate Liberal Democrat licensing spokesman Don Foster claimed that delays and cost uncertainties are hindering the pub trade.

He said: "How does Mr Caborn expect the industry and local authorities to prepare in time when, as we have heard, the guidance has not been published or approved."

Licensee Pete Harrison of the Unicorn Inn in Leek, Staffordshire, said: "The government seems to think that pub companies and trade associations are the whole trade.

"They are not talking to licensees. We have been promised the guidance for months but licensing is so far down the agenda. We are just desperate for information from the government."

Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Associations, said: "The bill is affecting so many other government departments and it's no surprise that it is delayed.

"It is far better to get the guidance sorted out in-house rather than having objections in Parliament."

Mark Hastings, spokesman for the British Beer & Pub Association, said: "If the guidance is going through in the next few weeks everyone will be delighted. The trade has a big job to do and having a firm timetable is going to help."

Fees update​

The government is currently consulting with industry and the Local Government Association about fees. It currently has six bands based on rateable value, which the minister said is "broadly" in line with the figures given to the trade last year.