Licensing Act

Bob Spink
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many licences have been issued in respect of charity fund-raising events which did not provide alcohol since the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Woodward
This information is not held centrally.

Anne Main
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent consideration she has given to seeking to amend the Licensing Act 2003 to allow ‘cumulative effect’ to be considered in licensing decisions.

Mr. Woodward
The cumulative impact of multiple licensed premises on crime and disorder has always been, and continues to be, a matter which licensing authorities are entitled to take into account when representations are made to them about applications for the grant or variation of a premises licences or club premises certificates. This was confirmed by the decision of Mr. Justice Beatson on 11 April 2006 in the unreported case of R (J D Wetherspoon plc) v. Guildford borough council. The Government therefore have no plans to amend the Licensing Act 2003 for this purpose.