§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his plans for licensing liberalisation will include conditions of fire exits, safe capacities and noise restrictions for licensed venues. [145443]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienWe envisage that licences for premises selling alcohol or providing public entertainment or late night refreshment should include such conditions as the licensing authority consider necessary, in the light of the views of the police, fire authority and local residents, to ensure public safety and to reduce the risks of crime, disorder and public disturbance.
§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the Cranfield University study, 'Licensing Law Liberalisation: The Scottish Experience', on the link between licensing liberalisation and binge drinking and alcohol-related violence. [145442]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienWe share the view of the Scottish Executive that the report of the study should be approached with a considerable degree of caution, and that it does not support the conclusion that changes to licensing law in Scotland made in 1976 have caused more violence or binge drinking. The report is in any event of limited relevance to our proposals for reforming the licensing laws in England and Wales, which do not involve reproducing the Scottish arrangements.