The following from my MP.

Dear Roger

I have gone back to Hansard and found that the truth is slightly different to what I was told by another backbencher. Apologies. When he told me that acoustic music was being exempt I though he meant from licensing. As you probably are now aware the crucial bit from the Minister is:

Their effect will be to suspend conditions attached to a licence that have been imposed by a licensing authority in respect of unamplified live music in any premises with a capacity of no more than 200 where it is performed between the hours of 8 am and midnight. To protect local residents and control those few inevitably unscrupulous or irresponsible operators, the licence will remain reviewable.

So - yes acoustic remains licensable, but adding entertainment to the operating schedule for a licensee should not carry any extra cost for acoustic music and should be encouraged by activists like yourself.

Sorry for the confusion but I am delighted that the bill has now gone through unopposed in Parliament.

Jim