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Dept for Culture Media and Sport

Answer

Mr. Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the likely impact on community and amateur sports clubs of the licensing charges announced on 4 November; and if she will make a statement. [197449] Mr. Caborn: The fee levels to be set by the Secretary of State under the terms of the Licensing Act 2003 have not been finalised. On 4 November, we announced the publication of a consultation on fee levels. We welcome the views of sports clubs as part of that public consultation, which ends on 23 December. All responses will be carefully considered before the fees are finalised. The proposal is that fees for grant of a club premises certificate will range between £80 and £500 and annual charges between £40 and £225. These fee levels have been proposed to ensure that licensing authorities are able to recover fully their costs of administration, inspection and enforcement under the terms of the Act and no more. In proposing fee levels and the allocation of premises to a band based on its non-domestic rateable value we have considered the impact of the approach on clubs, including community and amateur sports clubs. We do not therefore consider that the impact on such clubs would be significant. The Licensing Review that preceded the White Paper on licensing reform showed that alcohol licensing fees have been set too low for many years, and it would be wholly wrong for central or local taxation to continue to subsidise the consumption of alcohol. Consequently, we do not believe that the best way to promote sport is through Government subsidy of sports club bars. The Government's commitment to amateur sport is illustrated by the introduction in 2002 of a scheme which gives registered Community Amateur Sports Clubs mandatory rate relief at 80 per cent. and tax relief through Gift Aid on donations from individuals. So far the scheme has given amateur sports clubs an extra £5 million. This is in addition to the £60 million we have put into the Community Club Development Programme.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

426 c959-60W;426 c963-4W; 197449

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Clubs Fees and charges Licensing Entertainments Licensing laws Voluntary organisations Sports

Legislation

Licensing Act 2003

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk