§ Mr. GroganTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to introduce a deregulation order to allow more flexible liquor licensing during the football World Cup Finals in 2002. [11552]
§ Dr. HowellsNone. The statutory consultation and the periods for parliamentary scrutiny and approval set out in the Regulatory Reform Act 2001 for making a regulatory reform order could not be completed by the time of the World Cup Finals next June. The hospitality and leisure industry has made no formal request to have licensing hours varied to allow them to serve alcohol during early morning games. As the games will be shown on BBC and ITV terrestrial television channels, the public demand to attend licensed premises to watch the games is now likely to be limited. However, licensed premises which do wish to open very early to sell alcohol during televised games can apply for special orders of exemption from the magistrates courts (and in London, from the Commissioners of Police for the City and the Metropolis) in respect of this special occasion, and under the terms of the Licensing Act 1964 it is for the magistrates, or the chief officers of police in London, to decide whether any additional hours should be permitted.