They seem to be claiming that there has been an increase in entertainment 'box-ticking' during the licencing applications. I wonder if we will ever get any hard facts on the extent of this.

They can only compare like with like. Since there was no "like" before the current law they cannot compare it. They can only point to legal licences. But since some places did not understand the law and others ignored it (depending upon the licencing officers of the locality) no-one will ever know.

Neither will we. But what we can do it record any sessions that stop.

You should also document any verified examples of problems using the form on
the Musicians' Union Folk, Roots & Traditional Music Section's website at
http://www.mu-frtm.org/pel-form.