HC Deb 31 January 1985 vol 72 cc406-7
13. Mr. Leigh

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Govenment's current policy on the licensing law.

Mr. Mellor

My right hon. and learned Friend has no immediate plans for legislation on the licensing law. He is, however, keeping the matter under review, and will consider carefully the result of a survey, commissioned by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, into the working of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976.

Mr. Leigh

Does my hon. Friend agree that the experience of Scotland is that the liberalisation of its licensing laws has led to less drunkeness and crime and more employment? Is it not about time that the Government rid England of this resrictive hangover from the first world war, followed Scotland's example, and liberalised the licensing laws?

Mr. Mellor

The Scottish experience is being analysed by the Secretary of State for Scotland. We shall be in a better position to know whether my hon. Friend's confident assertions are correct when we have that evidence.

Mr. Mark Carlisle

Does my hon. Friend agree that the sooner the licensing laws are changed to take account of many of the proposals of the Errol committee, which are over 12 years old, the better?

Mr. Mellor

I regret that I cannot agree entirely with my right hon. and learned Friend. There were a number of proposals of the committee which successive Administrations, including, may I say, some of those of which my right hon. and learned Friend was a member, did not feel able to accept. We are in the same position.

Mr. Lawrence

Is my hon. Friend aware that a change to improve the licensing laws would revolutionise the tourist industry, substantially improve the brewing industry and do a great deal to reduce crime?

Mr. Mellor

All of that depends on the impact that increased opening hours would have on alcohol abuse, because we also have a serious problem of alcohol abuse. What the Government say — and I believe it to be responsible — is that we should await the evidence before we reach a conclusion. We shall not have the evidence until the research by the Secretary of State for Scotland has been completed and published.

Mr. Ryman

I am sure the Minister appreciates that most sensible people would welcome a reform of the licensing laws on the Scottish model. Does he appreciate also that among the most vociferous opponents of such a reform would be the brewers, who are the paymasters of the Tory party today as they have always been?

Mr. Mellor

Not for the first time, I am sorry to say that the hon. Gentleman is wrong. In fact, the Brewers Society is one of the prime proponents of the change. I do not know where that leaves the hon. Gentleman's point, but it is not quite as he made it, I suspect.

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