Draft Alcohol Licensing (Coronavirus) (Regulatory Easements) (Amendment) Regulations 2021

Holly Lynch Excerpts

Wednesday 8th September 2021 General Committees

[Holly Lynch (Halifax) (Lab)]

It is a pleasure to serve under you as Chair, Ms Nokes.

I thank the Minister for his opening contribution. The Opposition will not oppose the extensions in the draft regulations, which as he has explained extend permission for licensed premises to allow off-sales, increase the number of temporary event notices permitted for a premises in a calendar year, and increase the maximum number of days on which such temporary events may be held. We believe, on balance, that they are sensible measures that will help to aid the hospitality industry’s recovery from the pandemic. Increasing the number of temporary event notices will be particularly helpful for venues that wish to hold one-off events or celebrations, thus allowing businesses to utilise additional opportunities and generate extra revenue.

My own constituency has a thriving independent food and drink offer, with such an impressive live music scene that The Guardian described Halifax as

“the Shoreditch of the north”.

Of course, those of us in west Yorkshire know that, in fact, Shoreditch is the Halifax of the south. None the less, I have witnessed at first hand that many of the venues that contribute to our thriving offer have been able to utilise the extensions under discussion as they continue to navigate very challenging times. The off-sales extensions provide businesses and consumers with not only greater flexibility but confidence, given the public health benefits of socialising outdoors as we enter the colder months.

I do, however, have queries concerning the practicality of the measures for local authorities and local police forces. I am sure that the Minister will be alive to the possibility that, if not managed properly and responsibly, the draft regulations have the potential to bring about disruption to roads and transport links, and unwelcome antisocial behaviour.

The explanatory memorandum states that there

“has been informal consultation with the Local Government Association”,

and cost 4 of the impact assessment—“Increased crime and disorder”—is clear about the relationship between alcohol and crime, suggesting that there

“may be an increase in alcohol-related crime”

as a consequence of extending the changes. However, it also states that due to the uncertainties involved,

“this cost has not been quantified.”

I am concerned, therefore, at the impact assessment’s statement:

“There are no plans to monitor or evaluate this legislation.”

There is a risk that the extensions will burden already stretched councils and police officers, so I ask the Minister to keep the proposals under review, to ensure that they have the desired effect, without having unintended negative consequences, which are clearly outlined as a possibility by his Government’s own impact assessment.