Heritage Public Houses Bill
Debate between Linsey Farnsworth and Peter Prinsley
Dr Prinsley
I will come to that—[Laughter.] But I want to make a more serious point.
As we know, sadly, many pubs have disappeared. I understand that we lost something like 7,000 pubs during the 14 years of Conservative rule, and we continue to lose them. Anyone who walks around our towns or drives through the country can see closed-down pubs, but habits have changed and laws have changed. Some of these laws are exceptionally good ideas. For instance, the law about drink-driving is an excellent idea and has saved thousands of lives. I recall my father, who was a physician, telling me years ago that if people were caught drink-driving following an accident when he was young, the fact that they were drunk was regarded as an excuse. Times have moved on considerably.
Linsey Farnsworth
Yesterday the Ripley fair was opened on the marketplace of Ripley by the mayor. It is the 775th fair. On the subject of drink-driving, several pubs are on that marketplace and I dare say that some people will be frequenting them before going on the dodgems. I wonder what my hon. Friend would have to say about that.
Dr Prinsley
I would say that it is probably a poor idea to fill oneself up with alcohol and then go on the dodgems. I think it would exacerbate the vestibular upset.