§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the additional cost to local authorities if responsibility for alcohol licences is transferred from the magistrates courts. [81384]
§ Dr. HowellsThere will be no additional burden on local authorities. Following the transfer of responsibility for alcohol licensing from the licensing justices to local authorities as proposed in the Licensing Bill, licensing fees will be set at a level that fully recovers the costs to local authorities and industry.