Part 9Miscellaneous and supplementary

Guidance, hearings etc.

182Guidance

1

The Secretary of State must issue guidance (“the licensing guidance”) to licensing authorities on the discharge of their functions under this Act.

2

But the Secretary of State may not issue the licensing guidance unless a draft of it has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, each House of Parliament.

3

The Secretary of State may, from time to time, revise the licensing guidance.

4

A revised version of the licensing guidance does not come into force until the Secretary of State lays it before Parliament.

5

Where either House, before the end of the period of 40 days beginning with the day on which a revised version of the licensing guidance is laid before it, by resolution disapproves that version—

a

the Secretary of State must, under subsection (3), make such further revisions to the licensing guidance as appear to him to be required in the circumstances, and

b

before the end of the period of 40 days beginning with the date on which the resolution is made, lay a further revised version of the licensing guidance before Parliament.

6

In reckoning any period of 40 days for the purposes of subsection (5), no account is to be taken of any time during which—

a

Parliament is dissolved or prorogued, or

b

both Houses are adjourned for more than four days.

7

The Secretary of State must arrange for any guidance issued or revised under this section to be published in such manner as he considers appropriate.