HL Deb 30 July 1980 vol 412 cc1034-6WA
The Earl of KIMBERLEY

asked her Majesty's Government:

If they are in a position to state what conclusions have been reached following discussions with the Brewers' Society and the National Council on Alcoholism about the disposal of the licensing compensation funds.

Lord BELSTEAD

In August 1979, the Brewers' Society, after consulting other leading organisations in the drinks industry, put forward proposals for legislation to wind up the licensing compensation funds established under the Licensing Act 1904. After discussing the proposals with the Society and others in the industry, and with other interested organisations, including the National Council on Alcoholism, my right honourable friend has reached the conclusion that it would be desirable, when a legislative opportunity becomes available, to adopt the following scheme for winding up the funds:

  1. (a) 50 per cent. of the amounts now held by the county licensing compensation authorities would be paid to a new charitable trust fund, to be set up for the purpose of alcohol education and research;
  2. (b) 25 per cent. would be paid into a charitable trust fund from which grants would be made to the licensed trade charities; and
  3. (c) 25 per cent. would be repaid on tightly drawn criteria to certain claimants with a financial interest in licensed premises for which contributions have been paid to the funds in recent years.

The objects of the trust fund for alcohol education and research would be:

"To finance education about the dangers of alcohol abuse, and research into its incidence, causes and possible remedies, and pioneering schemes for dealing with drunken offenders and with alcoholism."

The management of the trust fund would be the responsibility of trustees, all of whom would be appointed by the Home Secretary in consultation with the Secretaries of State for the Social Services and for Wales and with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Before appointments were made to the board of trustees, the Home Secretary would consult:

  1. (i)representative organisations in the drinks industry;
  2. (ii)representatives of the medical and related professions; and
  3. (iii)organisations concerned with alcohol misuse and with drunken offenders.

House adjourned at fourteen minutes past eleven o'clock.