Licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe speaks

The Morning Advertiser has an interview with our erstwhile licensing minister, the full text of which is here. The most interesting points for me are:

1. A DCMS response to the Independent Licensing Fees Review Panel's report will be out at the end of the summer with any proposals to be consulted on. That report came out back in January - expect this one to drag...
2. There's an amusing claim that the Act will reduce bureaucracy. Presumably the proposals mentioned above will be pretty far-reaching.
3. It sounds like application forms and advertising requirements will be simplified.
4. A commitment to looking for a new process for 'minor variations'.
5. No guarantees about a universal annual fee date but they are assessing the implications. This may well be consulted on with the fee level proposals.
6. A DCMS evaluation of the Licensing Act is expected at the end of the year. Expect this one to drag...

There are questions on gambling in pubs, and a few questions on MA hobby horses (the smoking ban and blaming the off-trade for everything) that are batted aside. It looks like it was a written interview so although there was no scope for following up any questions at least the answers seem to be considered.



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