That was a sound-bite sort of remark - holding out bait in the hope it'll get picked up in the press. The thing that Kim Howells would probably most dearly love is to have a loud explosion of indignation from folkies, because that could make a better story. Cartoons. Have I got New for You. Private Eye. Attention!!

So I don't think there's any actual danger of annoying the man by kicking up a fuss.

Stories in the paper about this kind of thing probably help us, by drawing attention to the existence of folk music in pubs. But you can be certain that any stories mentioning it are going to poke fun. Not that that matters much.

I was pleased that in that parliamentary exchange there was at least a nod in the direction of recognising that music doesn't just happen in pubs. The bizarre thing is while the proposed legislation, when they get round to it, should go some way towards reducing the restrictions that discourage music in pubs, it seems pretty clear that there are no plans to liberalise the far stricter restrictions on music, including even a single person singing, in other places - such as coffee bars.

And that is clearly a breach of Human Rights, if we aren't allowed to sing when we choose.

Perhaps the letters to Kim Howells should point out that it isn't just three Somerset singers who would be barred from singing by the current laws, but a single Welsh politician, if he were to wish to sing in the House of Commons tea room.