Western Morning News

25 February 2003

Plans to allow around-the-clock drinking in pubs, clubs and other licensed premises suffered a setback when the House of Lords voted against the moves.

Peers also defeated the Government by voting to continue to allow live music to be played in pubs.

Ministers are expected to overturn all last night's defeats when the Licensing Bill returns to the Commons.
In the first setback, peers voted by 151 to 115, majority 36, to exempt most unamplified live music in pubs from restrictions in the Licensing Bill.

Ministers suffered a second defeat when Opposition peers backed a call to exempt schools from what they regard as an over regulated entertainment licensing regime. Voting was 169 to 107, majority 62.

In a third defeat for the Government, peers backed a Liberal Democrat move to set up a central authority to vet licensees' applications to sell alcohol. Voting was 143 to 111, majority 32.

The Government suffered a fourth defeat when peers approved an Opposition move to put a new duty on the licensing authority to protect the "amenity and environment" of local residents.

A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: "As part of the normal parliamentary process we will consider the applications of the Bill and whether we need to take any further action."

Many of the current licensing restrictions on pubs date back to the First World War and the Bill is seen as the most radical reform for almost 90 years

http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=115989&command=displayContent&sourceNode=115987&contentPK=4359341

And for their campaign articles against the Bill.

http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=116762&command=newPage