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Dept for Culture Media and Sport

Answer

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list for each licensing authority in England (a) the cost of and (b) the expenditure on liquor and entertainment licensing in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and for each prospective licensing authority and for England what estimate she has made of the annual (i) cost of and (ii) income from liquor and entertainment licensing after implementation of the Licensing Act 2003. [159876] Mr. Caborn: No figures are kept centrally for the annual cost of, and the annual expenditure on, liquor and entertainment licensing by local authority area. Local authorities have no current responsibility for liquor licensing and fee income goes to the courts. The new arrangements under the Licensing Act 2003 will integrate six existing licensing regimes: liquor, public entertainment, theatre, cinema, late night refreshment and night cafe licensing. We estimate that the income from all these regimes collectively is about £36.8 million annually for England and Wales, if renewal fee income is spread across the period of the renewal (which varies). We estimate that the actual cost of the six regimes to the courts and local authorities involved is approximately £69.3 million annually. Estimates of future expenditure under the new arrangements set out in the Licensing Act 2003 are currently being considered. No final decisions have yet been taken about fee levels and these will affect total income. Fee levels will be set so as to permit full recovery of the costs of administration, inspection and enforcement associated with the licensing regime.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

159876; 418 c1498W;418 c1500W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Alcoholic drinks Fees and charges Licensing Expenditure Entertainments Licensed premises Local government Licensing laws

Legislation

Licensing Act 2003

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

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