Parliamentary search - Licensing Act 2003

Type

Parliamentary proceeding

Reference

436 c759-807

Session

2005-06

Department

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Chamber / Committee

House of Commons chamber

Licensing Act 2003
Thursday, 10 July 2003
Public acts

Proceeding contributions

Mark Pritchard | 436 c781 (Link to this contribution) Does the hon. Gentleman agree that, although the Government are obsessed with public research, they ...

Lord Foster of Bath | 436 c781 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman makes his point eloquently.

Show all contributions (120)

Alistair Burt | 436 c781 (Link to this contribution) : The hon. Gentleman was rather cheekily challenged on his party’s attitude to binge drinking. Might...

Chris Ruane | 436 c780 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman uses the term ““binge drinking””. Will he enlighten the House about the number of...

Lord Foster of Bath | 436 c780 (Link to this contribution) No, I hope they would not. The hon. Gentleman is picking up a hoary old story, but, if he wishes, I ...

Jonathan Shaw | 436 c780 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman recited statistics relating to death and incidents involving binge drinking. He a...

Lord Foster of Bath | 436 c782 (Link to this contribution) The question is not whether that is a policy objective but whether the legislation makes it illegal ...

Lord Foster of Bath | 436 c781-2 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman is largely right. However, I suspect that his constituents, like mine, will welco...

Charles Walker | 436 c785 (Link to this contribution) Given the concerns of many chief constables, might it not have been better to trial the arrangements...

David Clelland | 436 c784-5 (Link to this contribution) What we need are more flexible opening hours, and that is one welcome aspect of the Act. Flexible op...

Paul Beresford | 436 c787-8 (Link to this contribution) My right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) provided us with a long list of complainan...

David Clelland | 436 c785-7 (Link to this contribution) So far as I am aware, this proposal has been trialled throughout Europe, and notably in Scotland, fo...

Lord Foster of Bath | 436 c782-4 (Link to this contribution) It is legal. Good. Many people will be delighted to know that we have an answer. Equally, however, m...

Philip Dunne | 436 c789 (Link to this contribution) It is only fair to point out that, in most local authority areas, the forms and guidance for applyin...

Adrian Bailey | 436 c788-9 (Link to this contribution) I rise to support the amendment and oppose the motion. The somewhat apocalyptic opening speech by th...

James Purnell | 436 c772 (Link to this contribution) There is no renewal process. Licensees send in a cheque to fund inspection and enforcement, but no o...

James Purnell | 436 c771-2 (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend makes a good point. We need to work with magistrates to ensure that if the applicatio...

Baroness May of Maidenhead | 436 c772 (Link to this contribution) I am grateful for the generosity of the Minister in giving way once more. On the reapplication for l...

James Purnell | 436 c770-1 (Link to this contribution) We were looking at that in the Department only today. We are trying to secure the final piece of leg...

Meg Hillier | 436 c771 (Link to this contribution) : My hon. Friend mentioned magistrates. Hackney council welcomes the Government’s resolve to stick w...

James Purnell | 436 c770 (Link to this contribution) I am happy to see if we can write a letter that provides comfort. The core of the Bill is about givi...

Peter Luff | 436 c770 (Link to this contribution) : When the Minister debated this matter with me some weeks ago in Westminster Hall, he was in a cons...

James Purnell | 436 c770 (Link to this contribution) I am happy to look at that, although my understanding is that, perhaps partly thanks to the hon. Gen...

David Heath | 436 c770 (Link to this contribution) Yes, the councils have made that decision this year, but it is open to challenge from anyone who bel...

David Heath | 436 c770 (Link to this contribution) : I want to make a positive suggestion. The Minister knows that I am interested in the problem relat...

Lord Foster of Bath | 436 c774-5 (Link to this contribution) The Minister needs to check his own legislation. Saying that licensees must apply by 24 November is ...

James Purnell | 436 c775 (Link to this contribution) I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman. I mis-spoke. I meant to say that licensees had to have their ap...

Baroness Keeley | 436 c773 (Link to this contribution) : On antisocial behaviour, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) spoke about corner shops....

James Purnell | 436 c773 (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend is right. I know she has campaigned on the issue, and in response to her and other ho...

Jonathan Shaw | 436 c773 (Link to this contribution) : My hon. Friend referred to the Violent Crime Reduction Bill. Is it not the case that there are pow...

James Purnell | 436 c774 (Link to this contribution) My hon. Friend is right. The idea is that if a local community and a set of licensees fail to deal w...

Andrew Gwynne | 436 c772 (Link to this contribution) I am not sure whether I am required to declare an interest, as my wife holds a highly distinguished ...

James Purnell | 436 c772-3 (Link to this contribution) That is an extremely good point, and it shows the powers that local authorities will have under the ...

James Purnell | 436 c773 (Link to this contribution) The Association of Chief Police Officers, which was represented on our high-level group. The Act is ...

Alistair Burt | 436 c776 (Link to this contribution) : I am puzzled. If the Minister thinks that charges being levied on village halls are too high, why ...

James Purnell | 436 c776-7 (Link to this contribution) I have responded to what ACRE—the representative body that we are dealing with—has asked us to do. I...

Chris Mole | 436 c776 (Link to this contribution) The Minister will recall that I wrote to him about a speciality cheese shop in my constituency that ...

James Purnell | 436 c776 (Link to this contribution) We will indeed look at that. My hon. Friend may well find that that shop is at the lower end of the ...

Lord Benyon | 436 c777 (Link to this contribution) In the year of the volunteer, does the Minister understand that bureaucracy like this is driving peo...

Janet Dean | 436 c775 (Link to this contribution) I understand that some local authorities take a different attitude to licensing, and obviously there...

Peter Luff | 436 c776 (Link to this contribution) : Will one of the anomalies that the Minister considers be the issue of sports clubs or holiday cara...

James Purnell | 436 c776 (Link to this contribution) That is one of the matters that we have asked Sir Les Elton to consider. I am told that it depends o...

James Purnell | 436 c775 (Link to this contribution) That is a good point. Application rates vary. Among the best ones, Bolton, for example, is up to 40 ...

Lord Foster of Bath | 436 c779 (Link to this contribution) I shall give way to all three hon. Members shortly. I simply want to make it clear that legislation ...

Meg Hillier | 436 c779-80 (Link to this contribution) In the hon. Gentleman’s litany of criticism, will he acknowledge that the Government have allowed lo...

James Purnell | 436 c777 (Link to this contribution) We completely support and appreciate the work that is done by volunteers across the country, includi...

Lord Herbert of South Downs | 436 c777 (Link to this contribution) Does the Minister accept that this problem extends not only to village halls and temporary events bu...

James Purnell | 436 c778 (Link to this contribution) I do not want to test the patience of the House by going on too long. I think that the hon. Gentlema...

Lord Foster of Bath | 436 c778-9 (Link to this contribution) I believe that all hon. Members would like to congratulate the Under-Secretary on a sterling perform...

David Heath | 436 c761 (Link to this contribution) Will the right hon. Lady give way.

Baroness May of Maidenhead | 436 c760-1 (Link to this contribution) I can certainly assure my hon. Friend of that fact. Indeed, I have so far failed to mention farmers’...

Rob Marris | 436 c761 (Link to this contribution) The right hon. Lady might not know that the third largest pub chain in the United Kingdom is headqua...

Baroness May of Maidenhead | 436 c761 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Rob Marris) asked first.

Peter Luff | 436 c760 (Link to this contribution) For the third time in her speech, my right hon. Friend has correctly cited a list of organisations t...

Peter Luff | 436 c760 (Link to this contribution) I am grateful, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Can my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) ass...

Speaker | 436 c760 (Link to this contribution) Order. It would help if we did not have interventions from a sedentary position.

Baroness May of Maidenhead | 436 c761 (Link to this contribution) The whole point is that the big chains have the personnel, resources and funding to provide support ...

Baroness May of Maidenhead | 436 c761-2 (Link to this contribution) The hon. Gentleman makes an extremely valid point. The Government have completely failed to understa...

James Purnell | 436 c763 (Link to this contribution) To tick all those boxes, an organisation would have to be a venue with a dance floor that would serv...

Baroness May of Maidenhead | 436 c762-3 (Link to this contribution) I want the Act to be fair to all pubs, clubs, voluntary organisations, village halls and sports club...

Angela C Smith | 436 c762 (Link to this contribution) The Tories have flip-flopped constantly on the Act. They cannot decide whether they want it to be mo...

Baroness May of Maidenhead | 436 c762 (Link to this contribution) Oh dear, the damage is done. I am afraid that I cited a direct quote from the Under-Secretary. Of c...

James Purnell | 436 c762 (Link to this contribution) I am grateful to the right hon. Lady for the opportunity to clarify the fact that I was absolutely d...

Baroness May of Maidenhead | 436 c762 (Link to this contribution) Indeed; the hon. Gentleman makes a valid point. There are three stages to the problem. Local authori...

Lord Foster of Bath | 436 c762 (Link to this contribution) Will the right hon. Lady also acknowledge that in addition to the many licence applications that are...

Baroness Keeley | 436 c763 (Link to this contribution) Will the right hon. Lady give way?

Baroness May of Maidenhead | 436 c763 (Link to this contribution) I shall respond to the Minister’s point first. The application form is not just seven pages, becaus...

Baroness May of Maidenhead | 436 c763-4 (Link to this contribution) I accept that some local authorities are running workshops. That is a good idea and is helpful, but ...

Speaker | 436 c763 (Link to this contribution) Order. The hon. Lady must ask a question when she intervenes. I think that for now she has probably ...

Baroness May of Maidenhead | 436 c764-5 (Link to this contribution) Indeed, simple is how the Minister describes it. He has no idea what people face. Let me draw the M...

Alistair Burt | 436 c764 (Link to this contribution) ““Simple””—the Minister has no idea.

Baroness May of Maidenhead | 436 c765-6 (Link to this contribution) No. I want to make progress. That is the reality of what is happening as a result of the Act. When ...

Meg Hillier | 436 c765 (Link to this contribution) Will the right hon. Lady give way?

Baroness May of Maidenhead | 436 c766-7 (Link to this contribution) I suggest that the hon. Lady thinks seriously before making such an intervention. When have there be...

Baroness Keeley | 436 c767 (Link to this contribution) Will the right hon. Lady give way?

Baroness May of Maidenhead | 436 c767 (Link to this contribution) No, I am coming to a conclusion. The Minister should now face the truth and accept the reality of w...

James Purnell | 436 c769 (Link to this contribution) I look forward to my hon. Friend’s press release and seeing him pictured in one of his local kebab s...

Jonathan Shaw | 436 c769 (Link to this contribution) : As well as 24-hour drinking, on which we have not heard from the right hon. Lady for Maidenhead (M...

James Purnell | 436 c769 (Link to this contribution) I am happy to consider that. I am also happy to meet the hon. Gentleman and other colleagues if that...

Lord Vaizey of Didcot | 436 c768-9 (Link to this contribution) As we are experiencing the parliamentary equivalent of a lock-in, as I gather from the screens, perh...

Alistair Burt | 436 c769 (Link to this contribution) The Minister is a bright chap. We are not dealing with a motion that condemns the entire Act in all ...

James Purnell | 436 c769 (Link to this contribution) We still do not know what the right hon. Lady’s views are on flexible hours. Through the Act—[Interr...

Baroness May of Maidenhead | 436 c769 (Link to this contribution) I set out a number of positive alternatives in my closing remarks. I offered suggestions to the Mini...

Baroness May of Maidenhead | 436 c760 (Link to this contribution) I am always very happy to visit Hackney and talk to people about the implications of what the Govern...

Jonathan Shaw | 436 c759 (Link to this contribution) The right hon. Lady sets out what she describes as chaos. Does she agree with the leader of Westmins...

Baroness May of Maidenhead | 436 c759 (Link to this contribution) I beg to move,"That this House notes with concern that with only 25 days to go before the 6th August...

Meg Hillier | 436 c759 (Link to this contribution) Will the right hon. Lady give way?

Baroness May of Maidenhead | 436 c759 (Link to this contribution) It has come to a pretty pass when a Labour Member has to quote a first-rate Conservative council to ...

Rob Marris | 436 c760 (Link to this contribution) Will the right hon. Lady give way?

Baroness May of Maidenhead | 436 c759-60 (Link to this contribution) I shall make just a little more progress before giving way. We can talk to all sorts of bodies—the ...

Meg Hillier | 436 c760 (Link to this contribution) Would the right hon. Lady like to visit my constituency, where the local authority in Hackney has do...

Baroness May of Maidenhead | 436 c760 (Link to this contribution) I shall give way to the hon. Member for Hackney, South and Shoreditch (Meg Hillier) first.

Richard Caborn | 436 c803 (Link to this contribution) No. In relation to the points made about the Local Government Association, may I put on record the ...

Hywel Williams | 436 c795-7 (Link to this contribution) I have a long-standing interest in the subject of the debate. My constituency was one of the very la...

Malcolm Moss | 436 c798-801 (Link to this contribution) The legislation seems to have been with us since the ark. It is now two years and rising, and the Un...

Philip Dunne | 436 c797-8 (Link to this contribution) I am grateful to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Hywel Williams) for keeping his speech brief and gi...

Alistair Burt | 436 c801 (Link to this contribution) A short one.

Richard Caborn | 436 c801 (Link to this contribution) When licensing and entertainment are on the agenda, we always have a lively debate. We have certainl...

Charles Walker | 436 c803 (Link to this contribution) Will the Minister give way?

Richard Caborn | 436 c801-3 (Link to this contribution) Yes, but it was a very measured one. He homed in on a problem that has been discussed again this eve...

Alistair Burt | 436 c793 (Link to this contribution) My postbag is remarkably silent about that. Scratching my head, I suspect that the answer is between...

John Grogan | 436 c794-5 (Link to this contribution) It is a great pleasure to follow the hon. Member for North-East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt), who pu...

Charles Walker | 436 c793 (Link to this contribution) : Will my hon. Friend tell the House how many times the police have been called to Swineshead villag...

Adrian Bailey | 436 c789 (Link to this contribution) No, but the hon. Gentleman overlooks the fact that there was debate with the industry and trade asso...

Adrian Bailey | 436 c790-1 (Link to this contribution) That is a good point. For a start, they can speak in the Chamber to advertise the issue. I shall cer...

Adrian Bailey | 436 c790 (Link to this contribution) I most certainly agree. Indeed my hon. Friend has just taken the next section of my speech from me. ...

David Lepper | 436 c790 (Link to this contribution) When the actions that the Minister spoke about earlier are supplemented locally by a proactive local...

Lord Foster of Bath | 436 c780 (Link to this contribution) I am delighted that the hon. Lady believes that the Bill does that. However, people in my constituen...

Baroness Keeley | 436 c763 (Link to this contribution) On effort, I commend to the right hon. Lady one of my two local authorities, Salford, which has got ...

James Purnell | 436 c768 (Link to this contribution) I beg to move, To leave out from ““House”” to end of the Question, and to add instead thereof:"““com...

Speaker | 436 c759 (Link to this contribution) I inform the House that Mr. Speaker has selected the amendment in the name of the Prime Minister.

Alistair Burt | 436 c791-3 (Link to this contribution) I am delighted to follow the hon. Member for West Bromwich, West (Mr. Bailey). I am pleased that, in...

Lord Foster of Bath | 436 c780-1 (Link to this contribution) Instead of spending much time on that, I refer the hon. Gentleman to a good publication that he will...

David Heath | 436 c761 (Link to this contribution) Just so that the right hon. Lady’s list becomes ever longer, another group of voluntary organisation...

Angela C Smith | 436 c766 (Link to this contribution) I thank the right hon. Lady for giving way for a second time. The right hon. Lady has talked much a...

James Purnell | 436 c769-70 (Link to this contribution) That is exactly what I am going to do. If the hon. Gentleman supports the Licensing Act, presumably ...

Chris Ruane | 436 c790 (Link to this contribution) What role does my hon. Friend feel that an MP can play in raising the issue of licensing in his cons...

James Purnell | 436 c782 (Link to this contribution) That is perfectly legal, and on the hon. Gentleman’s other point, we have no policy objective of mak...

Lord Foster of Bath | 436 c773 (Link to this contribution) : I am grateful for the Minister’s comments, and I will respond shortly. Can he tell us which police...

James Purnell | 436 c775 (Link to this contribution) I have given way a number of times. I shall make a little progress. It is important that the cost o...

Subjects

Clubs

Applications

Licensing

Licensed premises

Local government

Police

Licensing laws

Sports

Village halls

Legislation

Licensing Act 2003

Link

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