§ Mr. IllsleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for amending liquor licensing hours on 31 December 1999; and if he will make a statement.[80983]
§ Mr. George HowarthA proposed order was laid on 13 April. If approved by Parliament, this will extend normal licensing hours overnight each New Year's Eve until normal opening time on each New Year's Day, beginning with the millennium. There would be no requirement on operators to open at any particular time; it would be for them to judge whether or not to stay open and for how long.
The legislation would allow licensing authorities to impose appropriate restrictions on opening hours where it is shown that later opening is likely to lead to nuisance or disturbance. Applications for such restrictions could be made by the police, a local authority or an individual resident, or someone acting on their behalf.
Subject to Parliamentary approval, this change would come into force this summer, so that businesses could complete their planning for the coming New Year.