Clause 153 - Enforcement role for weights and measures authorities
Licensing Bill [Lords]
11:15 am
Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight, Conservative)
The clause provides for the enforcement role of weights and measures authorities and refers only to two clauses. I shall ask the Minister some questions on this and other relevant clauses, from 143 to 152. The first question is, why is the enforcement role limited to clauses 144 and 145? I would have thought that weights and measures inspectors on premises that are licensed for the sale of alcohol are in a perfect position to enforce aspects of other clauses, not merely those of clauses 144 and 145.
The second question relates to the enforcement of clause 144. The Minister has just said that that clause makes it an offence to spike a drink—[Interruption.] That is what he said.
Mr Joe Benton (Bootle, Labour)
Order. It is difficult to see the relevance of what the hon. Gentleman is saying to the clause under discussion. I must ask him to confine his remarks to clause 153.
Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight, Conservative)
I may indeed do so, Mr. Benton, but I was considering whether the weights and measures inspectors would have a broader scope for action than merely that given under clauses 144 and 145. The Minister's assertion is that clause 144 makes it unlawful to sell a drink to someone who subsequently decides to use it to spike a drink. However, if that assertion turns out to be incorrect, which I believe it is, and that act is not covered by clause 145, the weights and measures inspector will have no role in protecting people from having their drinks spiked regardless of whether they are under or over 18. If someone under 18 has their drink spiked, I hope that someone will be enforcing the law—[Interruption.] The Minister is chuntering.
Dr Kim Howells (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Culture, Media & Sport; Pontypridd, Labour)
Clause 153 is of no relevance to anything to do with spiking drinks. Although the hon. Gentleman is peeved that we did not collapse before his great logic, he should understand that the clause is about a specific matter.
Mr Joe Benton (Bootle, Labour)
Order. Before the hon. Gentleman resumes, I would like to be a little more definitive. We are discussing clause 153. I appreciate that the hon. Gentleman is referring to clause 144, but we cannot go back over old ground. We must confine ourselves to the clause under discussion. The hon. Gentleman does not seem to be describing an example, but constantly referring back to a previous clause, and we cannot have that. I ask him to confine his remarks to clause 153.
Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight, Conservative)
I take your advice, Mr. Benton.
Will the Minister explain why clause 145 is appropriate for enforcement by weights and measures inspectors, but clauses 147 and 149 are not? Clauses 147 and 149 are just as much designed for the protection of those who are under 18 as clauses 144 and 145. I am interested in whether the Minister has a logical reason for that, or whether there is something specific about clauses 144 and 145 that makes them singularly appropriate to be enforced by weights and measures authorities rather than by other authorities. I would have liked to have asked other questions too, but Mr. Benton has ruled, I am sure rightly, that it would be out of order for me to refer to them in too much detail.
Regardless of whether a provision appears in clauses 144 or 147, I am concerned that people should not be in danger of having their drinks spiked. We got on to that subject because of clause 145 and the amendment of my hon. Friend the Member for North-East Cambridgeshire which would delete the word ''knowingly'' from clauses 145 and 148. If it is appropriate for weights and measures authorities to enforce clause 145, in which ''knowingly'' appears, it is equally appropriate for them to enforce clause 148.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 153 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
It being twenty-five minutes past Eleven o'clock, The Chairman adjourned the Committee without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order.
Adjourned accordingly till this day at half-past Two o'clock.