Question reference: S6W-08722
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 26 May 2022
-
Current status: Answered by Ash Regan on 7 June 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls for extended opening hours for licensed premises between 2 and 4 June 2022 to mark The Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
Answer
Independent Licensing Boards in Scotland can grant general extensions of licensed hours if they consider it appropriate to do so in connection with a special event of local or national significance – as was the case during the Queen’s 60 th Jubilee celebrations in 2012. Whilst these are matters for Licensing Boards in their areas, the Scottish Government is supportive of Licensing Boards having these powers. It is worth emphasising the local decision making powers in this area, the Scottish Ministers do not have a power to grant a general extension of licensed hours, unlike the Home Secretary under the England and Wales licensing regime.