Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure that local authorities comply with the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 to (a) eliminate discrimination and (b) advance equality of opportunity when considering restaurant, entertainment and alcohol licensing applications and re-applications.

The Public Sector Equality Duty, enshrined within the Equality Act 2010, requires all public bodies, including local authorities, to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination and advance equality of opportunity in respect of all of the protected characteristics established by the 2010 Act. It is for each public body to demonstrate that they have fulfilled this duty and have considered the impact of their policies on each of the protected characteristics. Anyone with concerns that public bodies are not fulfilling this duty should, in the first instance, contact the relevant authority directly.

The Government is sympathetic to issues in relation to accessibility to licensed premises for disabled people and with ensuring businesses and service providers comply with the requirements in the 2010 Act. The Government has previously announced it will consult relevant organisations to better understand the extent of the problem. We will also work with the National Association of Licensing Enforcement Officers and representatives of the licensed trade to explore what practical measures can be taken to ensure significant improvements.