Legislative Reform (Supervision of Alcohol Sales in Church and Village Halls &c.) Order 2009

I welcome this relaxation of the requirement that a designated premises supervisor with a personal licence is needed in every instance where alcohol is supplied in community buildings. I know from personal experience how hard it can be to get someone with a personal licence to provide alcohol, and that this has led to events being cancelled and to community and church halls not being used as effectively as they might be for the benefit of local people. Therefore, I am grateful that the order provides for the management committee to authorise the supply of alcohol in such buildings. I take it that the provisions will ensure that the management committee keeps an eye on what is happening in the building with regard to alcohol, and, indeed, that protests can be made to the police if necessary. My only concern is that the definition of "management committee" in Article 6(1)(b) is not entirely apt to cover parochial church councils, which are in charge of most of our church halls. I should be grateful for the Minister’s assurance that it covers a PCC as the responsible body in those cases.