Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

I did not table an amendment to this clause, but subsection (2) refers to individuals not being able to apply for premises licences unless they are aged 18 or over. Does that apply to current licence regulations? I appreciate that 18 is the age at which alcohol can legally be purchased in this country, but common sense would suggest that having a premises licence would be an added burden. Has any thought been given to raising the age to 21, which must have applied at some point in the past?

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will be interested to know that, after a great deal of pressure from the industry, we only recently reduced the age to 18.

As I said, although I did not table any amendments to the clause, I wished to gauge why 18 was the designated age. Will many teenagers apply for or receive a premises licence for the sale of alcohol? It sounds as if significant representations have been made by the alcohol and entertainment industry, so perhaps the Minister will enlighten us.

I cannot remember whether I am making a speech or the hon. Gentleman is giving way to me.

I am glad the hon. Gentleman has raised—

Order. You are responding, but other hon. Members also want to speak.

May I take the Minister back to subsection (1)? The House of Lords exempted churches, but other church premises such as church halls are not exempted and I cannot see who would be able to apply for a licence for a church hall or other church facilities. Paragraph (a) talks about people who carry on a business, but a caretaker or chairman of the management committee of a church hall would not be carrying on a business. I cannot see where, between

paragraphs (a) and (j), somebody who held such a position would fit.

I shall try to get a specific list to the hon. Gentleman. This matter has come up in previous debates.

If a church hall, or a similar kind of hall, becomes a venue for the sale of alcohol, there is nothing to prevent someone on the committee becoming the personal licence holder. They would, of course, have to prove that they were capable. In most cases, as I am sure the hon. Gentleman knows, when people at such venues want to sell alcohol they contact a local publican or someone who is already a personal licence holder to subcontract for them. As I understand it, there is nothing to prevent them doing so. Churches are not exempt under the Bill, except where there is entertainment. That is the difference. An applicant could be any person connected with the church hall, so I do not think that there would be a barrier to people doing as I have mentioned. The hon. Gentleman will know that there is no reason why the secretary of the chrysanthemum society, or anyone else involved, may not get an occasional licence to put on a reception or other event.

I cannot remember the exact question asked by the hon. Member for Cities of London and Westminster. [Hon. Members: ''The age limit.''] That is a timely reminder to the Committee that we are dealing not only with pubs but with cinemas. The cinema owners were keen that we should bring down the age to 18, because that would help them in many ways. Many young people are keen to enter that industry, from which they were barred as managers until we changed the age limit.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause 17 ordered to stand part of the Bill.