Ministers split over bill for 24-hour drinking

The Government's claim that pubs and bars could pay for extra policing for 24-hour drinking was falling apart today.

Richard Caborn, the minister responsible for controversial new pub laws, admitted the toughsounding levy was not being considered. His confession came a day after Home Secretary Charles Clarke

sought to calm protests by hinting the industry would pay the massive costs to police of containing violence among drunks at night. The idea of a tax on pubs was also floated in a speech by Tony Blair last May.

But Mr Caborn, asked on BBC radio if the scheme was being planned, said: "The answer, to the best of my knowledge is no. What we are discussing with the trade is how we can actually get a voluntary levy to come in on business improvements and how we can develop city centres to be much more desirable."

His admission left the Government's fightback in chaos - and raised the spectre of the drinks industry buying off opposition from councils.

The levy plan appears to be similar to the casino laws also drawn up by Mr Caborn which collapsed in a U-turn last year. Under that plan, councils were keen to attract casinos because of the prospect of cash handovers to spend on regeneration.