No need to apolgise for caring about this issue. I have been beginning to think that not many people did. The total stupidity of this situation just seems to be generally accepted here in the UK?

That 'dusty' legal precedent may possibly demonstrate the need for some licence but not a PEL of course. The PEL was not a requirement in 1793. Maybe a sharp sword or a good horse was?

The point too is that their are many licences already involved in the year 2001 to establish the safety of the public places where the music is being made.