Delay to setting of Scottish licensing fees
A last-minute delay in the approval of new licence fees in Scotland has raised the hopes of licensees that they could be set a lower level than they had feared.
The Scottish Parliament's Justice Committee has deferrred until next week approval of a regulation which would have set fees for new alcohol licences at double the levels outlined a few months ago - and which could cost the licensed trade in Scotland up to £20m over the next eight years.
The Committee has asked Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill MSP to attend and answer questions about the fees at a new meeting next week. In an unusual move, it has also agreed to table a motion of annulment on the regulation in Parliament so that if they decide to reject it next week they can then have the matter voted on by all MSPs.
The Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA), whose members operate 1,500 of Scotland's 5,200 pubs, has welcomed the decision.
Chief executive Patrick Browne: "The decision of the committee not to approve this regulation this morning and ask further questions will be welcomed by the trade which wants explanations about how the bill which it faces over the next eighteen months will possibly be up to treble what it currently pays in Scotland.
"The points that were raised by members of the Committee were very relevant to the whole matter and hopefully they will be raised next week with th Justice Secretary and responded to so that at the very least the industry can have some confidence in the processes that have been used in arriving at these fee figures. The industry will await the outcome of the Committee's deliberations next week with real interest."
