asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether an equality impact assessment was completed on the decision to end the surrender requirement for new pub licences in Northern Ireland and on the later decision to conduct a business review on ending the private market in drinks licences; and whether equality issues are being addressed in discussions of the surrender question.[HL7251]

The equality screening exercise under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 on the proposal to abolish the surrender requirement did not identify any significant equality implications. Consequently, an equality impact assessment was not considered necessary.