I have tonight, sent the following to the Guardian letters page.

On the 28th July 2001 this newspaper carried news of a Morris Dancing event that had fallen foul of my local council's interpretation of current public entertainment licensing legislation. This interpretation was that these unpaid dancers and musicians were 'performers' in a public entertainment and the activity was therefore illegal outside my local pub.

The article made reference to a promised reform Bill for England and Wales, that had fallen with the previous Parliament. Hope was that this Bill would replace the law risking these local activities, the so called 'two in bar rule', with sensible legislation.

This Bill is now due to be included in the Queen's Speech, but will introduce a 'none in bar rule, where all (and only) live music making (even non-amplified) by even one participant, will be a criminal offence for a licensee without advanced official permission from the local authority.

It may not be well understood but should Morris dancing really be considered as an illegal activity?

Strangely, as the justifcation is the public's safety, advanced official permission is not required for live TV sport or pre recorded sound in pubs, irrespective of crowds attracted or volume, only for performance of all live music.

All (and only) live music making is to be first and automatically thought as presenting a noise concern, even when it is non- amplified and clearly not presenting any noise concern, as the Bill will not make any distinction.

The Bill proposes a simpler system and sensible opening hours but not a sensible approach to what presents a risk to the public and may need advanced official permission. Or what clearly does not, in what remenber are already licensed, inspected and controlled premises.

Pubs in Scotland do not require additional licensing for entertainment. Why cannot this system provide a sensible basis for entertainment licensing reform in England and Wales? One that does not risk making all (but only) live music a criminal offence.

This measure, had it been introduced by the Taliban, would have been considered an affront to culture by many and partly warranted and justified an armed invasion.

Ironically, is a measure that is being introduced here, to very little public concern, by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.