§ Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbottsasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they will lay before Parliament the secondary legislation under the Licensing Act 2003 on (a) the procedures to be followed in making an application for a licence under the Act; (b) the procedures for applying for "grandfather rights" for both a personal and premises licence; (c) the procedures to be followed in applying for a variation to a premises licence; (d) the fees to be paid for a personal licence; (e) the fees to be paid for an application for a premises licence; (f) the annual scale of charges to be levied on premises licences; and (g) the annual fee to be paid to register an interest in a premises licence. [HL5418]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Lord McIntosh of Haringey)The Government are currently preparing this secondary legislation in consultation with stakeholders including those representing local authorities. We intend to lay before Parliament all the secondary legislation that is required for transition to the new licensing regime, including those referred to by the noble Lord, over the next three months.
§ Lord Redesdaleasked Her Majesty's Government:
What additional funds they are allocating to local authorities in order for them to discharge their functions under the Licensing Act 2003. [HL5486]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe Licensing Act 2003 provides for fees to be payable to the licensing authorities for discharging their functions under the Act, for example, for applications for premises licences or club premises certificates. The fees will be set centrally by the Secretary of State at a level which will allow for full cost recovery in respect of the administration, inspection and enforcement of the new regime. No additional funding will therefore be required. Where an exemption from the requirement to pay a fee has been granted by the Government, the associated costs will be met from central government funds.
§ Lord Redesdaleasked Her Majesty's Government:
What recommendations they will make to local authorities with regard to how much they should charge applicants for (a) a premises licence; (b) a club premises licence; (c) a temporary event notice; 284WA and (d) a personal licence, when the Licensing Act comes into effect as expected in January 2005. [HL5487]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe Licensing Act 2003 provides that the fees which licensing authorities will charge for applications etc for licences, certificates and notices will be set centrally by the Secretary of State. The regulations setting out the fee levels will be made in the next few months. The regulatory impact assessment which accompanied the Licensing Bill contains estimates of the fee levels and is available from the Library of the House.