Two government ministers give evidence to Lords licensing committee
On Tuesday 13 December, two Government ministers will be quizzed on whether laws on licensing and alcohol sales are working, in the final evidence session of a Lords inquiry.
Sarah Newton MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Vulnerability, Safeguarding and Countering Extremism, Home Office, and Nicola Blackwood MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health and Innovation, Department of Health, will both give evidence to the Lords Committee on the Licensing Act 2003.
The evidence session will start at 10.30am on Tuesday 13 December.
Over the last six months, the Committee's inquiry has heard evidence claiming that:
- the licensing committee system is failing and should be aligned on planning,
- appeals should no longer go to magistrates' courts,
- legislation hasn't kept pace with a huge growth in off-trade and online sales,
- minimum unit pricing would be an effective control on alcohol abuse,
- loopholes in the law are likely to lead to serious alcohol-related issues at airports, and
- the night-time economy is skewed against local residents.
The Committee will put all these points, as well as other questions, to the Ministers and ask for their views.
The evidence session will start at 10.30am next Tuesday 13 December in Committee Room 3A.
