Clause 23 - Grant or rejection of application
Licensing Bill [Lords]
4:30 pm
Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire, Conservative)
I beg to move amendment No. 195, in
clause 23, page 14, line 16, leave out 'forthwith' and insert
'within two working days of the decision to grant'.
Mr Joe Benton (Bootle, Labour)
With this it will be convenient to discuss amendment No. 196, in
clause 23, page 14, line 28, leave out 'forthwith' and insert
'within two working days of the decision to reject'.
Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire, Conservative)
The amendment hinges on the definition and interpretation of the word ''forthwith'' in clause 23. Our amendment would replace ''forthwith'' with the words
''within two working days of the decision to grant''.
If there is a strict definition of ''forthwith'', I should like to hear it. At the moment, it can be interpreted in many different ways and we want to balance the needs of the businesses that are applying for the licences. I should like a quick and easy answer.
Dr Kim Howells (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Culture, Media & Sport; Pontypridd, Labour)
The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' defines forthwith as ''without delay''. In legislation such as this, words have to be given their natural ordinary meaning, so that is exactly what it means.
Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire, Conservative)
That is good advice; I think I shall.
It being Five o'clock, The Chairman proceeded, pursuant to Sessional Order D [29 October 2002] and the Order of the Committee [1 and 3 April 2003], to put forthwith the Questions necessary to dispose of the business to be concluded at that time.
Clauses 23 to 27 ordered to stand part of the Bill.