Licensing Hours (Hansard, 22 December 1997)

§ 3. Sir Teddy Taylor
If he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government on licensing hours for public houses and clubs. [20158]

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. George Howarth)
I have received representations from consumer, police and industry interests, many of which support longer opening hours but I have not yet reached any firm conclusions. If we went down that path, we would want to resolve the difficulty of balancing the desire of consumers with the desire of neighbourhoods for peace after establishments close. I shall risk telling the hon. Gentleman that one example often quoted is opening hours in other European states. As I am trying to win his favour at this time of goodwill, I will not press that point too far.

§ Sir Teddy Taylor
When will the Government make a decision on the 1996 White Paper? Is the Minister aware of the huge public concern about further extension of hours? Bearing in mind that the crime figures show clearly that alcohol is a basic element in a great deal of violent crime, will not the Government give more time and attention to exposing the dangers of alcohol rather than to extending licensing hours when clubs are already open until 2 am and sometimes 3 am?

§ Mr. Howarth
The hon. Gentleman makes a fair point. The previous Government held an extensive consultation exercise on licensing hours. To their surprise, and that of the industry, there was considerable concern about the issues that he raised, which we take seriously. That is why we are not rushing headlong into any reform along the lines that have been suggested, although I still would not want to rule that out. Genuine issues, many of which he raised, need to be covered.

§ Mr. Cawsey
I welcome the comments of my hon. Friend the Minister. In any review of licensing hours, will he take into account the night club industry? I say straight away that I have no personal interest in the industry. Those days are long gone. [Interruption.] Sad isn't it? Perhaps not at Christmas, but as a rule. The previous Government's review of licensing hours created no new trade; it merely moved it from night clubs to public houses. Will the Minister consult all appropriate interest groups in the industry so that he can reach a balanced judgment?

§ Mr. Howarth
Of course all the interest groups would be consulted on any proposals that we may make, though at present we have none. My hon. Friend is right that there is concern about the clubs industry. That is why police in many towns have argued in favour of staggering closing hours. I am not sure whether that is the answer. When I say "staggered", I mean it in the sense of time, not of people leaving such establishments.

§ Mr. Brooke
Does the Minister accept that, whatever the merits of the 24-hour city elsewhere, unless the 643 advance of tourism, leisure and entertainment in the swathe of central London between Covent Garden and Bayswater is tempered, the continuity of its residential communities, which confers so much stability on the heart of the capital, will be threatened?

§ Mr. Howarth
While I know less than the right hon. Gentleman, I am aware of the concerns of the part of London that he represents. That is why I said earlier that it is important to balance the consumers' desire to drink at different hours with the rights of neighbourhoods to peace and quiet after a reasonable time at night. That is difficult to get right, but, if there are to be reforms, such issues have to be tackled in a way that would satisfy the right hon. Gentleman, his constituents and, indeed, mine.