Licensing Hours Extensions Bill

Key Points

• Amends the Licensing Act 2003 to permit licensing hours Orders via negative resolution statutory instrument (SI).
• Introduces a secondary-legislation route for changing licensed opening hours, rather than requiring new primary legislation for each change.
• Bill originated in the House of Commons and is sponsored by Emma Lewell (Labour, Co-op); it has progressed through Commons stages and is now in the Lords.
• Official documents include Explanatory Notes, a Select Committee report and a Delegated Powers Memorandum outlining powers and scrutiny.
• Potential effects include faster flexibility in opening hours but reduced opportunities for detailed parliamentary debate on individual changes.

Progress

The Bill has completed its Commons stages and has reached the Lords, where it is at its 1st reading as of May 2024.