I received a letter from Charles Kennedy this morning. When I wrote to him, I deliberately just asked where the Lib Dems stood on the Bill, rather than saying I was specifically interested in the two-in-a-bar issues.

Summarising, he said the Lib dems:

* Support reform of the existing laws
* Have concerns with the implications of the Bill as drafted
* Think the proposed bill may result in increased bureaucracy
* Want a way to protect areas against concentrations of too many in one area
* Need ways to get 'voices of local organizations and business heard' when licences are considered


Then, for us!

'If the licence is to be granted easily and at no extra cost as the Government believs will be the case, our fears are groundless. However, we plan to introduce an amendment to exempt unamplified music from needing a licence... We would also like the Bill to include an exemption for Church Halls, religious community centres and other modest events or activities caught up in the proposed licencing regime.'

So, broadly on our side, but seemingly unaware of issues with eg morris and mummer plays, that many of the costs are compliance rather than licence fees as such, and of the effect on the bill outside pubs.