Date: 12th October 2006
Released by: ANDREW TURNER

The web of red tape enmeshing promoters of Island events will be examined by Culture Ministers as a result of Commons questions by Andrew Turner MP. The Chale Show, the Garlic Festival and the County Show organizers have all had to apply for costly licenses under both the Licensing Act 2003 and the Isle of Wight Acts.

Mr Turner said,

“The web of red tape faced by promoters of the traditional Island events since the Licensing Act took effect in November last year has been a nightmare for them to navigate, added considerably to their costs, and put them at a disadvantage compared with people promoting similar events on the mainland.

“Islanders should not be penalized because we had the foresight to control large events like pop festivals before there was any such regulation nationally, but that is what is happening – Island promoters are having to leap through two sets of hoops. We were told before the Act became law that it would ‘impliedly repeal’ parts of the Isle of Wight Acts, but no-one seems to know for sure which parts. That is why I raised the matter with the DCMS Minister, Shaun Woodward MP, by means of a Parliamentary Question, and I am glad he sees that there had been a problem, and has offered to meet me and see how things can be done better in future.”

Mr Turner is following up by inviting the promoters of major Island events to meet him to discuss any difficulties they had in the last year, and has pledged to put that information before the Minister.

END

Contact: Andrew Turner 01983 530808

Extract from House of Commons Hansard (9th October 2006, col. 6):

3. Mr. Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight) (Cons): If she will make a statement on the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003. [92567]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mr. Shaun Woodward): It is still too early to draw firm conclusions, but indications are that the new licensing regime has been successfully implemented and is working well.

Mr. Turner: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his answer. Why do certain activities on the Isle of Wight, such as the Chale show, the county show, the garlic festival and other very attractive festivals, find themselves regulated both under the Licensing Act and under the Isle of Wight County Council Act 1971, despite my having been told by the Minister’s predecessor—the present Minister for the Middle East, the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Dr. Howells)—before the Licensing Bill became law that it would impliedly repeal parts of the Isle of Wight Act? Which sections have been repealed?

Mr. Woodward: I am happy to answer the hon. Gentleman’s questions. I am glad that the Chale show, notwithstanding the difficulties that were faced, was a success. None the less, I recognise the problems faced as a result of the Isle of Wight Act and the Licensing Act both having to be navigated by those putting on the show. As the hon. Gentleman knows, my predecessor wrote to him in 2002, setting out the Department’s view that there would be implied repeal of elements of the Isle of Wight Act as a result of the new legislation. I have asked my officials to look into the matter and I am happy to meet him to discuss it because, as he knows, the intention behind the 2003 Act was to simplify the procedures, not to make things more difficult.

I therefore remind the hon. Gentleman that, as part of the new Licensing Act, we were able to reduce from 174 to 20 the number of forms, licences, notices, certificates and declarations. We managed wholly to repeal 23 Acts of Parliament relating to licensing and all associated regulations, and 69 Acts in England and Wales were reduced. Nine licensing regimes were reduced to a single regime. However, there was clearly a problem in the Isle of Wight and I am happy to meet the hon. Gentleman to see what we can do so that the problems faced by the Chale horticultural show can, if possible, be avoided in future.