HC Deb 28 April 1995 vol 258 cc753-4W
Mr. Anthony Coombs

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for relaxing the restrictions on Sunday dancing. [22132]

Mr. Michael Forsyth

We have today published a consultation paper proposing that the prohibition imposed by the Sunday Observance Act 1780 on admission charges for public dancing on Sundays should be removed. Our proposals also include amendments to the Licensing Act 1964 so that extensions of licensing hours at places where public dancing takes place may be granted on Sunday evening in the same way as they are on weekdays.

We have in mind to implement these changes by means of the order making power in the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994; and we would hope that they could be introduced before Christmas, as Christmas eve and new year's eve, which are popular nights for dancing, this year fall on a Sunday.

Copies of the consultation paper, to which responses are requested by Friday 26 May, have been placed in the Library.