Hi Magrath.

The problem with the small premises amendment is that it does not apply only to premises otherwise licensed, so the gov't is right that anyone could hire a hall and show pretty well anything (so long as it did not infringe the Obscene Publications Act, the Race Realtions Act, etc, etc) to anyone. Slight drafting hiccup, I think, is all (not my drafting). Perhaps it should only have applied to music and dance, but even there I think there is a problem with noise and public disturbance. These things are a balance between Article 8 human rights (respect for privacy and family life (and therefore homes)) and Article 10 (freedom of expression)

The mirror of it is however that movie companies have for decades been working on a plan to link cinemas by satellite to avoid the need to make and deliver expensive prints - and if they do finally get it together there is a real risk (it depends on the exact facts and the aplication of soem tricky definitions in the Broadcasting Act 1990) that the "broadcasting exemption" as it is now drawn (government drafting) will prevent imposition of BBFC classifications there to - in short, 8 year olds will (may) be able to watch whatever there too!!

BTW the effec t of teh bill on darts is in the SUnday Express, page 28.