AMENDMENT OF THE LICENSING ACT 1964

Early day motion 536, tabled 1 December 1997 by Paul Truswell (Labour). Signed by 38 members.

That this House expresses its deep sadness at the death of 14 year old David Knowles, who ran onto a busy dual carriageway shortly after consuming three cans of lager bought at Thresher's Drinks Cabin in Market Place, Pudsey; furthermore, shares the anger of his parents that a loophole in Section 169(1) of the Licensing Act 1964, confirmed by Russell v DPP 1996, prevents the prosecution of staff serving under 18 year olds with alcohol, unless those staff are the directly employed and paid servants of the actual holder of the liquor licence, which was not the case in this tragedy; and calls upon the Home Secretary to introduce appropriate amendments to this outdated legislation, in recognition of the fact that many staff selling alcohol are the employees of supermarket and off licence chains and are not, therefore, regarded in law as the servants of the individual names in the licence at their outlet.

Signatures by party: Labour 33, Plaid Cymru 2, Labour/Co-operative 1, Liberal Democrat 1, UUP 1.