HL Deb 22 March 2004 vol 659 cc81-2WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will delay the coming into force of the Licensing Act 2003, and the issuing of guidance thereon, until at least six months after the forthcoming publication of the alcohol harm reduction strategy, so as to allow for public discussion of the new licensing regime. [HL1765]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Lord McIntosh of Haringey)

No. There was full public consultation on the White Paper on licensing reform and full parliamentary scrutiny on the Licensing Bill which received Royal Assent on 10 July 2003. The Licensing Act 2003 provides useful and complementary tools to help to address problems relating to crime and disorder highlighted by the alcohol harm reduction strategy. We therefore have no intention of delaying the implementation of the Act and the important measures that will help to create a more civilised late-night culture. We expect to lay the draft guidance before both Houses in the near future.

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have received a report from the Metropolitan Police that the Licensing Act 2003 is likely to cause an increase in crime and disorder; and whether they will refrain from making an order bringing the Act into force until such a report has been published and debated. [HL1877]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

So far as I am aware, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not received a report from the Metropolitan Police of the kind described. On 15 October last year, a joint briefing note about the Licensing Act 2003 and its impact on anti-social behaviour, prepared by Westminster City Council and the Metropolitan Police, was sent to us under cover of a letter from the then Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Andrew Trotter. In his letter, Mr Trotter expressed concerns that the implementation of the 2003 Act may result in increased consumption of alcohol with a resultant rise in crime and disorder. In his reply, the Minister for Sport and Tourism (Richard Caborn) informed Mr Trotter that the Association of Chief Police Officers has generally supported the abolition of permitted hours as they believe it could lead to a decrease in incidents of crime and disorder. The merits of the Licensing Bill were debated by Parliament at length and it received Royal Assent on 10 July 2003. Since then three commencement orders have been made bringing into force parts of the 2003 Act. We expect to make further orders as soon as possible and we see no reason to delay the implementation of the 2003 Act, not least because of the important contribution we expect it to make to the prevention of crime and disorder.