Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire, Conservative)

I beg to move amendment No. 328, in

clause 90, page 52, line 7, at end insert—

'(5) Any regulations prescribing a fee in accordance with subsection (1)(b) or (3)(b) shall provide for the fee payable by a voluntary sports club to be not more than the amount equal to one tenth of the fee payable by any other form of club.

(6) For the purposes of this section ''voluntary sports club'' means a club the main purpose of which is to provide facilities for, and promote participation in, one or more sports designated for that purpose in the regulations or by reference to a list of sports maintained by a body specified in the regulations.'.

Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet, Conservative)

With this it will be convenient to discuss the following:

Amendment No. 329, in

clause 172, page 95, line 10, after 'effect,', insert—

'(ff) to the extent that it would otherwise constitute the provision of regulated entertainment, at the premises of a voluntary sports club,'.

Amendment No. 330, in

clause 172, page 95, line 18, at end insert—

'( ) For the purposes of subsection (1)(ff) ''voluntary sports club'' means a club the main purpose of which is to provide facilities for, and promote participation in, one or more sports designated for that purpose in an order made by the Secretary of State or by reference to a list of sports maintained by a body specified in such an order.'.

Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire, Conservative)

These are important amendments. One of the most unsatisfactory results of timetabling is that Committee members can never time their run to reach the more important amendments within the allotted time.

Amendment No. 328 sets out regulations prescribing fees for voluntary sports clubs. Proposed new subsection (6) defines what we mean by voluntary

sports clubs and amendments Nos. 329 and 330 are consequential amendments to clause 172. The Government have not consulted all the groups and organisations in the sports world that they should have done on the impact of the legislation. Under the new legislation, non-profit-making sports clubs throughout the country will be liable to pay what to many will be unaffordable fees to obtain an entertainment licence.

Under the current law, non-profit-making sports clubs pay about £15 every three years to obtain a basic alcohol licence. Although not all of those clubs can provide bar facilities, for those that can it is an effective way to complement the fundraising necessary to maintain the club, and it can be used as a social facility on match days and sporting occasions. For those clubs that do not have facilities but might want to provide for certain events, the hassle of obtaining a licence, as well as the increase in costs, might make that an unfeasible endeavour.

The amendments would ensure that the Government continue to protect the small, non-profit-making sports clubs by maintaining the current fee for obtaining a licence and not imposing an increase of about 50 times the cost of a licence for such bodies. In addition, we seek assurances from the Government that clubs will continue to be exempt from requiring an entertainment licence. As we well know, these clubs are run by volunteers whose continuing efforts and hard work ought to be recognised by the Government and in particular the Department for Culture, Media and Sport—the very architects and instigators of the legislation.

Dr Kim Howells (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Culture, Media & Sport; Pontypridd, Labour)

Having regard to the strength of the argument that the hon. Gentleman has presented to the Committee—

Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire, Conservative)

I had not finished.

Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet, Conservative)

Order. I assume that the hon. Gentleman was giving way.

Dr Kim Howells (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Culture, Media & Sport; Pontypridd, Labour)

He was. Given that we do not have a great deal of time to debate this important clause, I can tell the hon. Gentleman that I am agreeable to considering amendments Nos. 328, 329 and 330.

Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire, Conservative)

I am most grateful. I beg to ask leave with withdraw the amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause 90 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 91 to 95 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Further consideration adjourned.—[Mr. Kemp.]

Adjourned accordingly at one minute to Seven o'clock till Thursday 8 May at five minutes to Nine o'clock.