§ Mr. Grieveasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received against proposals to transfer the power to grant music, singing and dancing licences from licensing justices to local authorities.
§ Dr. Summerskill:In January 1975 the Home Office circulated to interested parties, including the local authority associations, the Magistrates' Association, the Justices' Clerks' Society and the Association of Chief Police Officers, proposals for legislation modernising the law on the licensing of premises for public music, singing and dancing. The Magistrates' Association and the Justices' Clerks' Society expressed opposition to the suggestion that the licensing authority should in future be the district council, and have recently reaffirmed their views in correspondence with the Department.
§ Mr. Grieveasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many local authorities have sought, or are seeking to transfer to themselves the power to grant music, singing and dancing licences; and in how many cases, if any, legal effect has been given to such application.
§ Dr. Summerskill:During the present Parliament no local authority has so far promoted a private Bill including pro- 764W average penalties imposed in each of the years concerned on persons found guilty in magistrates' courts and in higher courts.
§ Dr. Summerskill:The information available is as follows:
visions for this purpose, but I understand that in the forthcoming Session four county councils intend to promote Bills conferring the power on district councils within their counties. It will be for Parliament to decide whether the power should be so conferred.
The Home Office has no record of the areas in which Section 51 of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act 1890, empowering the licensing justices to license premises for public music, singing and dancing, has been adopted. I am therefore unable to say whether they include any of the districts to which the Bills I have mentioned would apply.