Licensing (Alcohol Education and Research) Bill (Hansard, 26 June 1981)

§ The Earl of Kinnoull
My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a third time. In moving the Third Reading, I wish briefly to place on record my thanks to all those who have made the Bill possible, and so enable a sustantial fund of frozen assets to be unlocked and put to useful work in the battle against alcoholism. Such a seemingly simple and worthwhile objective in a Bill is deceptive as to its simplicity of drafting and to the achievement in reaching an amicable financial agreement among interested parties.
My thanks go, first, to the committee of my noble friend Lord Erroll of Hale, which first highlighted the problem in 1972; then to members of the Brewers' Society for their responsible agreement and good will; to the department of my noble friend Lord Belstead for its hard work in grappling with the complexities of drafting and advising outside interests; and not least to my honourable friend the Member for Harrogate, for choosing to introduce the Bill in another place. Along with other noble Lords, I wish the objective of the Bill well in the future. I beg to move.

§ Lord Elwyn-Jones
My Lords, the Bill has the universal approval of the House, and I should like to congratulate the noble Earl, Lord Kinnoull, on his introduction, control and steering of it through the House. It deals with the hardy perennial of the compensation authority funds which, when I was sitting in another place, came up almost monthly. It is excellent that it has now been resolved by agreement among all the parties concerned, and we on this side of the House wish those involved in this valuable work every success in their endeavours.

§ Lord Belstead
My Lords, perhaps I may add the voice of the Government to this. I think my noble friend and the honourable Member for Harrogate in another place are both to be congratulated on the work they have done in steering this Bill through both Houses. I agree with the noble and learned Lord, Lord Elwyn-Jones: it really is very valuable that these funds have been unlocked and I am sure they will now be put to good use.