HC Deb 19 December 2002 vol 396 cc966-7W
Mr. Heath

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the cost of the impact of the Licensing Bill on(a) churches, (b) village halls, (c) voluntary associations and (d) other non-profit-making bodies. [87411]

Dr. Howells

[holding answer 16 December 2002]: The Government anticipate that it will be simpler and less expensive for voluntary associations and other nonprofit-making bodies to stage entertainment under the new regime. The Regulatory Impact Assessment estimates that some organisations would save around £150 million over the first 10 years. Churches, of course, have been exempt from the requirement for a public entertainment licence for music outside Greater London. Any costs would depend on the licensable activities, if any, which are undertaken and their frequency.

However, as I stated in the House of Commons on 16 December, Official Report, column 517, the Government have made a commitment to reconsider its position on the licensing of churches and will announce our conclusions as soon as possible.

Mr. Heath

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions took place between her Department and religious authorities as part of the consultation on licensing reform. [87409]

Dr. Howells

[holding answer 16 December 2002]: The White Paper "Time for Reform", published in April 2000 was the subject of a full public consultation. It was sent directly to 231 organisations and over 650 organisations produced responses. We received eight responses from religious organisations, including one from the Churches Main Committee. None of these were concerned with the proposal to licence public entertainment in churches and other places of religious worship. Since then, officials of my Department have had discussions with officials of the General Synod of the Church of England about a possible mechanism to exempt churches from licensing controls.

Mr. Steen

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture. Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the additional costs which will be incurred by churches as a result of the provisions of the new Licensing Bill. [87451]

Dr. Howells

[holding answer 18 December 2002]: In the Regulatory Impact Assessment, published with the Licensing Bill, it has been estimated that an initial application for a premises licence would cost between £100 and £500, and that there would be an annual charge of between £50 and £150. Any costs would depend on the licensable activities, if any, which are undertaken and their frequency.

However, as I stated in the House of Commons on 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 517, the Government have made a commitment to reconsider its position on the licensing of churches, and will announce our conclusions as soon as possible.