Those of you who recall the suggestions for pro-folk-music matters to be included in Council Licencing Policies may be interested to note the following email that I received from the Live Music Forum Secretariat today. It is a pity that it took almost a month to get an acknowledgement.

"Thank you for your email to the Live Music Forum and for your suggested contribution for inclusion in LAs Licensing policy statements. I am replying as part of the Forum's secretariat You may be aware that one of the areas the LMF is currently looking at is how best to encourage Licensing Authorities to include positive references to live music and other forms of regulated entertainment in their Licensing policy statements. They hope that Licensing Authorities will be able to use the opportunity provided by the new policies to emphasise the economic and cultural advantages of venues staging live music in particular. I know that your comments will be useful in informing this debate and will ensure that they are forwarded on."

Richard