Select Committee on Northern Ireland Affairs Minutes of Evidence


Examination of Witness (Questions 300-304)

FEDERATION OF THE RETAIL LICENSED TRADE, NORTHERN IRELAND

8 MARCH 2006

  Q300  Mr Fraser: On the point you made to Rosie Cooper about reluctance to report crime, is there any evidence that the cost of crime is being passed on to the consumer, i.e.—and this is the information point you made—are the unit costs for alcohol more expensive in Northern Ireland as a consequence than they are in the rest of the United Kingdom, for example?

  Mrs Carruthers: Any costs from crime will be passed on in some shape or form. I am not aware that the cost of alcohol in pubs in Northern Ireland is any more expensive than in the rest of the UK. Obviously, costs vary depending on the pub. The costs will be passed on, just as rates costs are passed on, and our much higher insurance costs that we have in Northern Ireland. It would probably have an effect at the margins.

  Q301  Lady Hermon: Nicola, I would just like to ask one question to know your view—and the Federation view as well. You said on a couple of occasions that a small group of pub owners would not be happy to involve the PSNI, and on another occasion you referred to the sensitivities of some people in reporting crime; and you said, in response to Christopher's questions, that there is a reluctance to complain to the police. Do you think, and would the Federation be of the view, that it would be changed if Sinn Fein were to join the policing board, and urge other people from a Republican background to join the police? Would that have a significant change in the attitude of Federation members to reporting crime generally?

  Mrs Carruthers: I am not sure about the change from Federation members per se but from my own view I would have thought it would because if Sinn Fein did join the policing board it would be my view that there would be an awful lot more confidence across the whole of Northern Ireland in reporting crime.

  Q302  Chairman: You have, if I may say so, been an exemplary witness, and we congratulate you on fielding everything on your own. All the others have had assistance and sidekicks, but you have faced it all. We are very grateful to you for saying that you will do a survey because that will be helpful to us. We are not asking you to divulge names or even locations, but an indication would be helpful because we want to make a constructive report. We talked several times about the business community, of which you are a part, collectively, and individually your members; do you have a lot of participation in bodies like CBI, the Federation of Small Businesses and so on?

  Mrs Carruthers: From time to time.

  Q303  Chairman: Are you affiliated to any of them?

  Mrs Carruthers: Not formally, no, but we would discuss and meet on matters of equal and joint concern.

  Q304  Chairman: So you will be familiar with Mr Mitchell, one of our earlier witnesses, from the Federation? Yes. Are there any final questions from colleagues, or is there a final point you would want to make?

  Mrs Carruthers: I do not think there is anything more I would like to say—just thank you very much for your time. Hopefully, whatever I have said has been useful.

  Chairman: Extremely. Thank you very much indeed for coming. Thank you for what you are going to do. There may be some written questions we will send to you; and equally there may be points when you go back and think, "I wish I had dealt with that", so if that is the case, please feel free to write to the Clerk. We look forward to the beer tour with you later in the year!





 
previous page contents

House of Commons home page Parliament home page House of Lords home page search page enquiries index

© Parliamentary copyright 2006
Prepared 5 July 2006