HC Deb 13 February 1997 vol 290 c302W
Mr. Robert McCartney

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the numbers of drinks licences in Northern Ireland presently in existence, by type, and specify the annual income received from issue of these licences and the costs of their administration in the last year for which figures are available. [14841]

Sir John Wheeler

For the period ended 31 December 1995, the last complete year for which figures are available, the number of drink licences in force in Northern Ireland, by type, was as follows:

Category of licence Number of licences
Public houses 1,642
Off licences 322
Hotels 150
Restaurants 294
Place of public entertainment 10
Refreshment room in public transport premises 13
Seamen's canteen 3
Non-seagoing vessel 1

Figures supplied by the Northern Ireland Court Service indicate that a total of £742,559 in fees income was derived from the issue of licences and their associated applications during the financial year April 1995 to March 1996. This total is made up as follows: Magistrates court: £692,109 County court: £50,450.

I am advised that the cost of administering the grant and renewal of liquor licences is part of the overall cost of civil business in the county and magistrates courts. Costs as between the different types of civil business are not maintained.