§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what access (a) local and (b) national temperance societies will have to discussions on licensing when the new licensing arrangements come into operation. [188315]
§ Mr. CabornMembers of local and national temperance societies have the same rights as any other citizen. The Licensing Act 2003 provides that interested parties, including persons living or involved in a business in the vicinity of a premises or bodies representing them, may make representations about applications for provisional statements and about the grant or variation of premises licences or club premises certificates, except where a simple conversion of an existing licence or certificate is made under the grandfather rights provisions in Schedule 8 of the Act. Interested parties may also apply for the review of a licence or certificate at any time as well as make representations about a review once it has been applied for. Representations must be about the effects of the application on the promotion of the licensing objectives. Members of local and national temperance societies will be able to make representations if they are interested parties under the terms of the Act.