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Tobacco and Vapes Bill

My Lords, Amendment 21A is in my name and that of my noble friend Lord Kamall. In Committee the Minister stated that the Government would design a licensing regime that would support compliant retailers while targeting rogue operators. She also spoke of minimising burdens where possible and recognised the importance of ensuring that retailers and local authorities had sufficient time for training and development. Reference was also made to a call for evidence and to the subsequent consultation that would address matters such as the process for granting licences and implementation generally.

A retail licensing system will require the creation of application systems, fee structures, compliance mechanisms and, crucially, enforcement arrangements. Local authorities

will need to establish or adapt administrative systems, train their staff and ensure alignment with trading standards and environmental health functions. Small retailers, many of them independent businesses, will need to understand the new requirements. They will obviously have to submit applications, adjust their own internal processes and potentially invest in training or record-keeping systems.

In our Committee debate, I was encouraged by the Minister’s statement, which indicated that the Government were actively seeking views on how long a period implementation would require. I therefore have a number of questions for the Minister. First, can she update the House on the outcome of the call for evidence, if she has it, and the subsequent consultation to which she referred in Committee? Specifically, is she in a position to provide the feedback the Government have received from retailers and local authorities on the time they would require to implement a licensing regime?

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Secondly, have the Government reached a provisional view on the likely commencement timetable for retail licensing regulations? Do they anticipate a phased introduction, and if so, over what period? Thirdly, what assessment have the Government made of the administrative readiness of local authorities? Has the department engaged directly with representative bodies to understand the systems, staffing and training that will be required, and the time needed to put those in place?

Lastly, if the Government will not commit to the precise terms of this amendment, will they commit to ensuring that there is a clearly defined and publicly communicated minimum lead-in period between the laying of regulations and their commencement? I beg to move.