REGISTRATION OF BOUNCERS

Early day motion 1571, tabled 16 July 1998 by Lynne Jones (Labour). Signed by 54 members.

That this House supports a national registration scheme for door supervisors but, in the interim, welcomes the initiatives by local authorities in creating local door supervisor registration schemes, which have proved successful in regulating the employment of club bouncers in London; recognises, however, that although a legislative anomaly allows for the creation of such schemes by London local authorities, under the London Local Authorities Act 1995, there is no clear legal right for any other local authority to do so; is disappointed that advice from the Home Office suggests that such schemes might be legal under section 111 of the Local Government Act but that local authorities would have to take their chances in court if challenged; and, in view of Counsel's advice to Birmingham City Council, that the essential elements of its proposed registration scheme do not fall within the statutory powers of a local authority, believes that the Government should take action as soon as possible to correct this problem, which is dissuading local authorities from going ahead with schemes that would prove beneficial to residents and visitors alike.

Signatures by party: Labour 44, Liberal Democrat 7, Labour/Co-operative 2, UUP 1.