Licensing Act 2003

No. I want to make progress. That is the reality of what is happening as a result of the Act. When the Minister says that it will not affect community groups, perhaps he has not heard of organisations like Sonning working men’s club or the Italian Circle in Welwyn Garden City. The committee of the Italian Circle has written to us. It was established a few years ago to provide talks about Italian subjects to members and visitors. It has slide shows, videos and so forth, and offers members and visitors the opportunity to have a glass of wine. The consumption of wine averages four to five bottles a meeting, yet it has been informed that it has to make an application under the Act for temporary event notices. According to the chairman, however, the way in which the Act is drafted has presented it"““with severe problems, which may result in the closure of the Circle.””" The Government have failed to grasp the way in which this ill-thought-out and heavy-handed law is impacting not just on community groups, village halls and working men’s clubs, but on small businesses. I have a letter from Wines Unlimited in Worcester Park, which says:"““We are a small wholesale wine business, selling by the case, which my husband set up when he retired as a hobby. Under the old regulation we did not need a licence to trade as a wholesaler. Under the new regulation we have to have a premises licence for our storeroom, a Personal licence, pay Band D Charges council tax and many more regulations, which of course all cost money. Our profit margin is very small and therefore would not stand this kind of expense. So we can only go out of business.””" It goes on to say:"““The Legislation has not been thought through properly. We have to spend between £100.00 and £300.00 on a course to teach us NOT about wine or how to serve the community””" but"““to teach us how to throw someone out of a bar! (which we do not have and have no intention of having)””." That is how ill thought-out this particular piece of legislation is. At Prime Minister’s questions three weeks ago, the Prime Minister, on the issue of village halls, gave an undertaking. He said:"““I do understand the hon. Gentleman’s concerns. We tried to introduce a licensing regime that puts more power in the hands of local people. I understand the problems of village halls—I have heard about them myself—and we look further into them to see if anything can be done. Obviously, in the end, we need a licensing regime that pays its way.””—[Official Report, 22 June 2005; Vol. 435, c. 798.]" Perhaps the Minister can tell us what can be done or what he intends to do as a result of the Prime Minister’s commitment to the House that this matter would be looked into. What will the Minister be doing for Richard Slater of the Village Halls Advisory Service, who says that the new Act seems very unfair. He adds:"““For halls to be limited to 12 temporary event notices means that small money-raising activities for, say, a playgroup holding a cheese and wine event will either be driven to private houses for a few or penalise an essential facility in a village.””" That is the problem. Community activities will cease as a result of what the Government have been doing. There are further complications. I have seen a letter from Mr. Barclay, the honorary treasurer of Roydon village hall.