Our noble Lords may claim to understand the subtle differences in the way the Bill proposes to treat the simple singing of Christmas carols and why, but do you?

The situation in the following is simply defended by the Government on the grounds that it is really just the same under current legislation. Is this rather badly missing the point that they are proudly proposing a deregulatory 'reform' of current legislation, in this Bill?

"People singing carols in a supermarket or a railway station and so on would need to be covered by a premises licence or a temporary event notice."[Lord McIntosh, government whip, 1st Committee stage debate of the Licensing Bill, House of Lords, 12 December 2002. So..........

Carol singers in a shop or station require a licence.

Carol singers in church service do not require a licence.

Carol singers in a church concert do require a licence.

I find that it is rather difficult to square the above and the heavy penalties, with the stated objectives of this 'reform' Bill, or is it just me?

Perhaps we can all ask our MPs to explain and also write to our local papers and ask others to ask their MPs?

http://www.faxyourmp.com/