Well in venues. Applications for live music has gone up.

Wonderful. It is a shame that no supplimentary questions were asked and as a result, Mr Sutcliffe has been given a chance to indulge in a blatant piece of election spin.

If the number of applications have increased, this would not be too surprising given that Mr Sutcliffe's Government have made it neccessary for practically all live music everywhere to make applications, have introduced a whole new temporary licence.

They have also introduced the concept of Entertainment Facilities which means that application needs to be made for anything (including the premises themselves) to enable the public to entertain themselves in music and dancing.

But the number of applications is not an indication of any increase or decline in live music for many reasons but one is that the claim may or may not refer to all applications, and may include unsuccessful applications.

In pubs specifically, as small scale live music was exempt in many pubs, these would have needed to make applications (for the first time) just to keep the existing level of live music. A situation made worse as Mr Sutcliffe and Co would have us acept that their Licensing Act has increased the number of pubs with live music - when the pubs themselves are still closing at an alarming rate.