MEETINGS OF LICENSING BOARDS (Hansard, 27 July 1976)

§ Mr. Harry Ewing
I beg to move Amendment No. 5, in page 4, line 5, leave out 'six' and insert 'eight'.
This amendment meets a commitment given in Committee to the hon. Member for Fife, East (Sir J. Gilmour). I hope that it meets with his approval.

§ Mr. Teddy Taylor
Will the Minister answer a few questions on this amendment, which substitutes "eight" for "six"? This means that the clause will now read: shall hold a meeting in January, March, June and October of each year beginning on a date in each such month fixed by the licensing board at least eight weeks prior to the meeting. What will be the procedure in the event of one of the regular meetings and the one which succeeds it not taking place because it is not possible to get a quorum? How can the board keep to the eight-week notice period if the regular quarterly meeting cannot be held on the appointed day, or the week after or the week after that, because the board cannot arrange a quorum? This will arise in a limited number of areas if the Government will not be flexible and accept a 495 later amendment which is on the Amendment Paper.

§ Mr. Ewing
As the hon. Member knows, this was discussed at length in Committee. It has nothing to do with the size of the quorum. We gave a commitment that we would delete six weeks and insert eight. We have done that, and it is acceptable to the hon. Member for Fife, East and his hon. Friends, as I understand it.