COMING UP ON THE MIKE HARDING SHOW 03/04/03

Subjects for forthcoming Mike Harding Shows on BBC Radio 2, Wednesdays 8 - 9pm are: April 9th Kim Howells; April 16th Requests; April 23rd Sandy Denny/St George.

Seconds out - Round 2.

Despite the back-slapping about how the Bill is improved since its Lords visit, the sad and disgraceful fact remains that if our Labour Government has their way - one (advertised) person singing in a pub that has not applied for permission, will be an offence for the licensee (and/or the organiser). They will subject to a maximum £20,000 fine or 6 months in prison and will have automatically made the premises unsafe.

That any form of concert can take place in any place of religious worship, at any volume, at any time and for any amount of attendees, free from any additional licensing permissions or resulting imposed conditions.

That despite the examples I have provided of violent incidents arising from TV football events in pubs, these will be free from any additional licensing permissions or resulting imposed conditions.

In the year 2003, that cannot be a Government action of which you can have any pride at all. I have found you to be a decent chap and I trust that you will do your very best. And try to ensure that this trust, and those of many other voters, is not misplaced and that the Government's creditability, that Dr Howells has done so much to damage, can be restored. Good luck.

Musicians are not Dr Howells enemy, why is he still so determined to see them as this, and in this determination ensure that they will become his enemies? A more contrite approach from him, and a sign that he was prepared to listen, rather than continue to demonstrate his ignorance of musical matters, even at this late stage, would not go amiss.