My feeling is that the nub of it, so far as our music is concerned, isn't really money, as The Admiral suggests - I think it is much more the result of a political culture in which to make concessions and recognise mistakes is evidence of weakness, and evidence of weakness is damaging for ambitious politicians and civil servants.

So what is needed is to present them with options which can be presented in a positive light, as evidence of responsive and imaginative thinking, and stuff like that.

I think that putting some emphasis on exemptions which would make it easier for informal social music to flourish in non-drinking settings would have that quality. It ties in with the idea of diverting young people from seeing pubs as the only place to go; and it also takes account of the existence of ethnic minorities, such as Muslims for whom pubs are not (officially anyway) part of their culture.

Since the whole brief of the people involved in putting this legislation together was centred on pubs, they could reasonably hope to be excused for failing to take these issues into account earlier, and commended for taking them into account at this stage.

An amendment I have already suggested would have the effect of opening up such settings, as well as protecting pub sessions and singarounds, and such activities as Morris Dancers, bell ringers and carol singers - "The provision of any entertainment or entertainment facilities or participation in such activities where the primary purpose is for the mutual enjoyment of performers is not to be regarded as the provision of regulated entertainment for the purposes of this Act."

It wouldn't be enough to solve all the problems. The kind of paid two-person gigs which have been allowed without licence problems under the present law would still be at risk. But it would be easy enough to draft an exemption that would cover them - perhaps something exempting two-or-three person outfits if un-amplified, or with amplification below a certain level. Existing public safety requirements would still be in force in any case.

Of course drafting amendments isn't the same as getting them. But these ones would have the merit of simplicity - some of the other suggestions I have seen appear to get getting too complicated for the average MP or Minister to be able to understand.