The Guidance was approved by the House of Lords last night, having previously been approved by the House of Commons. There was a vote in the Commons Committee on strict party lines, so it was carried. There was no vote against in either main chamber, although there was a vote in the Lords on second proposal regretting that the fees were not published before the Guidance approval vote was held. This was lost.

We are now in the phase where it is necessary for Local Authorities to prepare and consult on their Licencing Policy Documents. This period has to last at least six months so could end during December, however it was stated in the Commons Committee that Local Authorities were very concerned at the thought of a sudden ruch of applications for licences just before they had a christmas break. As a consequence the minister indicated that the first appointed day, when appplications for licences can first be submitted, would be likely to be delayed to early January next year.

Richard