[Written answer, not yet published online, from Baroness Rawlings to a question from Lord Clement-Jones HL8487]

'The Department for Culture, Media and Sport can see no reason why venues should require a separate permission to simply allow customers to sing or dance as they celebrate the Royal Wedding. I am sure that, in interpreting and enforcing licensing laws, local authorities will agree with the Prime Minister that unnecessary regulation should not get in the way of the celebrations.

Perhaps it could be explained why venues should require a separate permission to simply allow customers to sing or dance as they celebrate all things except Royal Weddings and why licensing officers would continue to advise that the law gives them no alternative but to follow what they claim to be their statutory duty to prosecute unlicenced singing and dancing on every circumstance except Royal Weddings?

The DCMC may agree with the Prime Minister and may indeed be sure that local authorities will also agree but none of these parties can alter the words of the legislation - which apply on every day of every year.

If it is considered by the DCMS, the Prime Minister and local athorities that such legislation is "unnecessary regulation" which gets in the way of celebrations - what is being proposed to alter this?