HC Deb 24 January 1979 vol 961 cc143-4W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) who holds the money held in the compensation fund set up by the Licensing Act 1964; and what is the annual rate of interest paid;

(2) when was the last occasion on which the compensation authority made a payment out of the compensation fund under the Licensing Act 1964; how much was paid; to whom; and for what purpose;

(3) if the compensation authority is still imposing charges under section 17 of the Licensing Act 1964; and when the last charge was imposed;

(4) what were the expenses of the compensation authority in each year since 1964.

Dr. Summerskill

Licensing compention funds are held locally by 58 compensation authorities. Most of this money is invested, and the annual rate of interest varies according to the type of investment.

The most recent information available centrally about the payment of compensation and the imposition of charges by the compensation authorities relates to the year ended 31 December 1977. During this period the authorities paid out a total of £95,530 in compensation in respect of 13 premises. Charges under section 17 of the Licensing Act 1964 were imposed by only two authorities and totalled £2,058.

Information about the annual expenses of compensation authorities since 1964 is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.