Draft Licensing Act 2003 (Permitted Temporary Activities) (Amendment) Order 2026

Julie Minns Excerpts

Wednesday 11th November 2026 General Committees

[Ms Julie Minns (Carlisle) (Lab)]

I will speak briefly in support of the order, particularly with regard to rural communities like mine in north Cumbria, where it is not that a pub may have closed but that a pub never existed in the first place, so the centre of the community is the village hall. I put on the record my thanks to the village hall committees of Nicholforest, Roadhead and Stapleton, which each run an amazing number of community events throughout the year. This order will be a big boost for them.

I also give credit to the Crossings and the Black Lion, which are more than pubs for the two villages they serve. When there are storms and power cuts, which are sadly too frequent, they are hubs for the community. I very much welcome the order, which is crucial to sparsely populated areas such as north Cumbria. Gathering at a function at the village hall or local pub gives people the opportunity to meet their neighbours.