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3.11 The Deputy of St. Martin of the Minister for Economic Development regarding a review of the current liquor licence fees charged annually under the Licensing (Jersey) Law 1974:
Given that on 26th September 2007 the States approved P.117 of 2007 and requested the Minister for Economic Development to review the current liquor licence fees charged annually under the Licensing (Jersey) Law 1974 and to finalise the review and publish its findings no later than 1 August 2008, will the Minister inform Members why the findings have not been published and when they will be published?
Senator A.J.H. Maclean (The Minister for Economic Development):
The Deputy 's question is slightly misleading. I was asked in P.117 to review the fee structure relating to the 1974 Licensing Law. P.117 specifically asked for the review to be finalised and the findings published no later than 1st August, as the Deputy has said, in 2008 or before any requests are made for further increases. I can confirm no fee increases have been sought and indeed will not be until the review is complete. The review was also extended to include all aspects of the complex Licensing Law. I expect to be able to publish the results of the Green Paper by February 2010.
- The Deputy of St. Martin :
It is tit for tat here. Will the Minister agree then that by the fact that the fees have not been brought back to the House as indeed by August last year that the Exchequer or the States have lost considerably thousands of pounds in revenue or lost revenue which would have come had the review been carried out within the stipulated time?
Senator A.J.H. Maclean:
Is the Deputy encouraging me to put the fees up? It is only a couple of weeks ago he was arguing completely the opposite with regard to the gambling legislation. No, I do not feel that the Exchequer has lost out. I think it is more important that we deliver a fair and reasonable liquor licensing law and its licensing law as a whole.
- The Deputy of St. Martin :
Fifteen all. Will the Minister agree then to carry out a comparison for cost recovery with the gambling industry in comparison with the liquor licensing fees which the Minister will know are very, very low?
Senator A.J.H. Maclean:
No; I think the 2 are totally unrelated. As we have mentioned previously, as far as gambling is concerned, that is a regulatory function. As far as the licensing law is concerned, it is not to regulate the law, it is more of an administrative function currently. Consequently there are no direct comparisons between the 2.
- The Deputy of St. Martin :
Will the Minister not agree then surely that if there is a certain amount of cost recovery in issuing a licence say for an off-licence, category 6, which is only £114 and yet asking maybe a local club to pay £20, £30 for a fee to a run a bingo or a raffle so would he not consider some cost comparison is important?
Senator A.J.H. Maclean:
No, I do not, not between 2 industries. However, I do agree that it is important that the fees are properly reviewed as part of the process that is currently underway.