Western Morning News June 17 2003
MPs reject calls for music Bill amendment

The Government remained defiant last night over proposed changes to the licensing laws, By rejecting the call for small premises to be exempt from the new regime.

The controversial Licensing Bill was put through its third and final reading in the commons, with MPs throwing out an amendment tabled by peers allowing pubs holding less than 200 people to have live music without a licence.

If the Bill becomes law, anyone staging live music will be forced to require a licence from their local authority. Campaigners had hoped that smaller venues would be made exempt.

The vote prompted fierce criticism from opponents who claimed it would be a "disaster" for the performing arts.

Shadow culture, media and sport minister Malcolm Moss said ministers would have to bring forward "sensible and practical" proposals to deal with concerns over live music in small venues or else the law would not get through all its remaining parliamentary stages. He said it would have to be altered before it was acceptable to the entertainment or licensed trade industry.

"Many interested parties and groups have not had the consultation they need or deserve," he told the Commons.
"There is a sizeable number of people faced with the impact of this legislation on their lives and businesses who are, to put it mildly, distinctly unimpressed."

The Licensing Bill, which could be law by next year, would make virtually all kinds of music illegal unless licensed.

The two-in-a-bar rule, which allows a landlord to have one or two musicians play in a pub without needing an entertainment licence, would also be abolished.

A landlord would need to apply to their local authority for a new premises licence to stage any musical performance. But because of the expensive conditions which may be insisted upon by health and safety authorities, there are fears that pubs will simply abandon live music altogether.

But Culture Minister Kim Howells last night issued reassurances that local authorities will not be able to be heavy-handed in their approach to the new licenses. He said: "Cultural expression is a very important part of the life of every single local authority and they will be expected to encourage it everywhere."

Opponents to the Bill – who include musicians, landlords and more than 11,000 WMN readers – have vowed to fight on to ensure an exemption for small premises is reinstated.

The Bill will now pass back to the Lords on Thursday, and peers are expected to vote the amendment back in. Hamish Birchall, a spokesman for the Musicians' Union, said: "This is of no real surprise. The campaign will remain centred on small events and opposition peers have confirmed that they will support this."