HL Deb 16 December 1971 vol 326 cc1259-60

2.41 p.m.

LORD REIGATE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what purpose the Inner London Compensation Committee, as constituted under the Licensing Act 1904, now serves, in view of the provisions of subsequent legislation.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD WINDLESHAM)

My Lords, the compensation system has been in abeyance in Inner London following its designation as a licensing planning area under the provisions of the Licensing Planning (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1945 and 1946. Whether the system will have any future purpose to serve, in London or elsewhere, cannot properly be judged in advance of the report of the Committee on Liquor Licensing, of which the noble Lord, Lord Erroll of Hale, is Chairman.

LORD REIGATE

My Lords, may I thank my noble friend for that information, all of which was already at my disposal? May I ask him whether he does not think that an end should now be called to the burden of time this system places on many busy people who have to attend a number of formal meetings every year in order to reinvest the proceeds of a fund of £150,000? How many other moribund committees of this sort exist in other licensing areas?

LORD WINDLESHAM

My Lords, I would not dissent from the view that the whole compensation system is one that has continued for a long time and needs to be reviewed. The Government think that the Committee they have set up to review the licensing laws is the proper body to investigate this aspect of the licensing legislation as well.

LORD LEATHERLAND

My Lords, inasmuch as the Minister has introduced the general question of licensing, may I ask him whether he noted in yesterday's financial columns the fact that the Carlisle State Management Scheme have nearly doubled their profits for the past year? Will that factor be taken into consideration in assessing the amount which private brewers will have to pay to take over this State organisation?

LORD WINDLESHAM

My Lords, I do not think that even my previous answer should lead me to deal with a supplementary question of that kind.