To ask the Minister for Communities to outline the progress made on the review of entertainment licensing, conducted as part of the red tape review of the hospitality industry.

In 2014 an Entertainment Licensing Review Group was tasked with reviewing the legislation, associated model terms and conditions and the structure and level of fees for entertainment licences, and making recommendations on any changes needed. It reported its findings to the then Minister of the Environment in February 2015 and made 36 recommendations for a future licensing regime.

A consultation on the Review Group’s Report and recommendations was conducted from 1 May 2015 to 26 June 2015. An analysis of the responses showed that respondents welcomed the proposed changes and agreed with the majority of the recommendations.

The Departmental Response to the public consultation issued on 10 March 2016 and indicated that more detailed proposals for a future entertainment licensing regime would be developed and that further liaison was needed with other Departments on certain issues.

I am currently considering the Departmental Response to the public consultation together with the Review Group’s report, to decide what further work may be needed on updating the entertainment licensing regime.

I would refer the Member to the Executive’s document, Better Regulation: An Action Plan for Reform, published in March 2016, which sets out an integrated approach to regulatory reform. This recognises the value of sector or theme based specific reviews and the opportunity they provide for more detailed and in-depth engagement with key stakeholders.