All this is very late. The Government claimed it had the polie on board, and Howells quoted the Association of Chief Police Officers that "live music inevitably brings people from out of the area and that means trouble". Having recently been to a local art gallery open night with a string quartet, there were certainly people from out of area but I didn't see much sign of trouble, even with wine around. I don't think dinner jackets and cocktail dresses go with brawling somehow.

Nonetheless my local authority in East Yorkshire bragged tonight that 98% of licenses were in for conversion.

I really do not like any of the stuff about Temporary Event notices and "light touch" - it looks as light as an elephant to me - and could be very difficult for festivals. Does anyone, including the Government, have a clue how you count an audience of 499 if you are a folk band playing in a field at a festival. If someone counted 499 do you have to wait until one leaves until another one comes in. And how far do you count- the whole field or the street outside.

What lunacy this is.