This is not a taxation measure, designed to divert some money movements to central or local goverment, but a public order measure. Isn't it?
No, as you well know Richard.
If any form of music making can be considered exempt from the new licensing requirement purely on the basis that "no money changes hands", it must be a taxation measure. An opportunity to raising revenue, (now centrally) from commercial music making (only).
This is the whole point of continuing to use and press home the unpaid folk session argument and not to relax. For it demonstrates the exact bogus nature of blanket licensing being necessary for the public's safety and interests.
This Government has seen that blanket entertainment licensing has been used by some local authorities for revenue raising purposes. Whilst criticising local authorities for doing so and holding the moral high ground, have decided that they will set, collect and raise this revenue centrally, and use the same bogus (safety) justification, to give this measure some respectability and to raise the liquor licence fee at the same time.
I know I may sound a little cynical and politically motivated but am I wrong? This is a Government that I voted for remember.