Government stands firm on reform timetable
Licensing minister James Purnell has confirmed that the dates set for licensing reform are "absolutely firm" and there will be no delays in the timetable.
Two weeks ago, the BII called for the Government to push back the 6 August deadline for retention of grandfather rights by six months and extend the second appointed day by eight months to July 2006. "There is no chance at all that the 6 August deadline will be put back none at all," said Purnell.
The minister said that even if he had wanted to put back the 6 August deadline, which would require primary legislation, he could not because there was no longer enough time left for an act to be passed.
Although no official date has yet been set for the second appointed day, it is widely believed it will be 7 November 9 months after the start date. "It will be approximately early November," confirmed Purnell. "There is a slight danger that some will be comforted with the thought there could be a delay. The key focus anyway is 6 August and the weeks before that to allow applications to be processed. There are no plans to put the second appointed day back. The parameters are very clear."
The Department for Culture, Media & Sport will be concentrating on a renewed publicity blitz over the coming weeks that will include adverts in more than 30 magazines, regional tours, revamping its website, adverts in cash-and-carry stores and even reminders on invoices from suppliers. "We will leave no stone unturned, but in the end we cannot make people apply."
Work is also being carried out with local authorities to find more flexible ways of dealing with small errors on applications. However, Purnell refused to be drawn on what the fate of those who failed to have a new licence post-November would be, or whether a period of grace could be introduced. "If they have no licence their business is at risk," he said. "It is up to the police and local authorities' but they wouldn't be licensed. In black-and-white terms they would have no licence and cannot trade."
