‘Public law has grown to meet the needs of justice on the one hand and of good government on the other by holding public administration to as much of its public undertakings – its policies – as is necessary and fair.’

1. In the wake of a series of recent public health scandals, legislation has been introduced which allows local councils to license hot-food vendors, the (fictional) Fast Food Act 2008. Under this Act, it is an offence to sell hot food without a licence. Hugh, Gordon and Jaime are three vendors who have been refused licences by Oldcastle Council. Hugh was informed by Delia, who chairs the council’s Licensing Committee, that his request for a licence was rejected because his prices were too high. Hugh argues that his prices should be irrelevant to the grant of a licence under the 2008 Act and that in any case, taking away his licence was too severe a punishment.