My Lords, I thank noble Lords for the opportunity to speak in the gap. I would like to make a few comments specifically in relation to this Bill.

I was previously the chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association. I spent many a happy hour— or not—preparing, negotiating and discussing this particular piece of legislation with the Government at the time. I also brought the court case that resulted in the change in legislation, with the result that it was possible for people to drink at hours when the men’s football World Cup was taking place in Japan and South Korea.

As the noble Lord, Lord Watson, said, pubs are used on many occasions and in many different circumstances. I remember only too well having a conversation with him about the merits and demerits of moving the Greets Green and Lyng ward from one Constituency in the Black Country to another. Boundaries may be resolved in some interesting places on occasions.

More seriously, this is an important piece of deregulatory legislation. It is a small step that I think is absolutely necessary. The problems that we have seen, in relation to the inability to bring forward changes in hours because Parliament is not sitting, have been highlighted on a number of occasions. This is a small but necessary deregulatory measure that is welcomed by the hospitality industry. I wish the Bill fair for the next few stages and contributions.