HC Deb 08 March 2004 vol 418 cc1295-6W
19. Mr. John Denham

What assessment she has made of the implications of allowing police authorities to raise a levy on city centre licensed premises to pay for policing costs. [158935]

Mr. Caborn

We do not consider that the case has yet been made for imposing a compulsory levy on licensed premises for the costs of policing. We believe that the right way forward is through voluntary schemes where they can be justified. The implementation of the Licensing Act 2003 and the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England to be published shortly will do a great deal to address the issues that the honourable Member has previously raised about the policing of the night-time economy.