John King Comments:
Actually, performers being searched before going on stage has nothing to do with Form 696. This is sometimes a condition of the premises licence. Here's Lambeth Council approving the searching of musicians at a resaurant: http://tradescant.blogspot.com/2011/01/wheatsheaf-tia-maria-licence.html

In 2010 the MU announced their support for the revised Form 696.