"Tranche" isn't exactly a respectful word to use. The image is of a slice of something you chew up and swallow.

But Shambles is quite right about the fact that this government (any government in this part of the world actually) will always pay far more attention to a fuss made by Americans, who are potential tourists or potential investors, than it ever will to those of us living here, especially over something like the ban on unlicensed music making.

One point here that might be relevant. At present while there are penalties for proprietors who allow unlicensed music making, there aren't any for the musicians or singers themselves.

But that's due to change. Any one making music or singing in a place which isn't licensed for the purpose is liable to get banged up, if the law goes through un-amended. So if you are planning to come here for your holiday, you don't just need to worry that perhaps you won't be able to find sessions and so forth - if you strike up a song or a tune in a publicly accessible place which doesn't have a licence, you could be in trouble yourself.

So if that makes you think that perhaps there might be a better holiday destination than England or Wales, now is the time to let Kim Howells know about your worries. (And the letters pages of English newspapers also frequently use email letters from America.)