Ministers accused of “panicking” over pub levy
The Government has again come in for criticism over its plans for a reform of licensing laws that could lead to 24-hour drinking.
The Conservatives have accused the Government of “panicking” following reports that it plans to introduce a levy on pubs and clubs to help pay for the cost of policing its licensing law reforms.
And former Health Secretary Frank Dobson said the costs of additional policing should be met by the drinks industry and not local council tax payers.
But he accused civil servants involved in the preparation of the bill of being influenced by the drinks industry.
Licensing Minister Richard Caborn said flexible pub opening hours would help to cut crime. He also confirmed that the Government was in discussion with the industry over a voluntary levy.
Conservative Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said this would not solve the problem.
“They need to get a grip of this situation and postpone implementation of 24 hour licensing laws until proper policing brings binge drinking under control,” he commented.
“If the Government lets 24 hour licensing go ahead, no amount of patchwork responses, like this proposal to charge publicans, will stop our town centres becoming no-go areas for decent people.”
Meanwhile Mr Dobson told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that costs should be met by the drinks industry – following the polluter pays principle.
“We should introduce a licensing fee system which means all the local councils costs in running the new system are met by the fees paid by the booze industry and are not a burden on the local council tax payers,” he said.
He also expressed concern that “civil servants who were involved in preparing this bill appeared to have been captured by the booze industry.”
Richard Caborn said the new laws would give people more control over the licensing of pubs in their area
He told the same programme: “If anybody wants to object for the first time ever with the new laws, local people, constituents and local businesses can object to licensing. If they do that, and indeed the police as well they will not get either flexible let alone 24 hour drinking.”
