Well, here is the relevant extract from that site Richard helpfully found us (the link direct seems to have a problem, but I ferreted around on the site, which is Herts County Council's, and got there eventually):

Section 182(1)
(Relaxation with respect to licensed premises of laws relating to relating to music and dancing licenses and billiards)

No statutory regulations for music and dancing shall apply to licensed premises so as to require any licence for the provision of public entertainment:

a) By the reproduction of wireless (including music television) broadcasts

b) By way of music and singing only which is safely provided by the reproduction of recorded sound.

c) By not more than two performers.

d) Sometimes in one of those ways or sometimes in the other.

Which by itself seems to suggest that if they just remove section 182, as Lord Bassam of Brighton indicated they are planning to do, it will mean that a pub will have to apply for licences for anything, including playing a wireless set, or having even a single person singing or playing.

Which doesn't seem a great improvement. But then I got the distinct impression from that Hansard extract that the Lordships don't have a clue about this whole thing, even less than the rest of us.