I know what you are saying Richard but in truth there are so many words in this Bill that should not be there. These few more will not make any difference. But this amendment is only damage limitation after all.

Western Morning News 19 June 2003 [Morning]

MUSIC BILL SET FOR 'PING PONG'

Controversial legislation affecting live pub music reaches another crucial stage today, as peers decide whether to reinstate an exemption for small venues.

The Government's Licensing Bill – which has caused outrage from musicians, landlords and more than 11,000 WMN readers – seeks to make virtually all forms of live performance illegal unless licensed through the local authority.

Earlier this year, peers voted to include an amendment in the Bill's policies which would exclude premises holding fewer than 250 people from the new regime. But after a lengthy committee stage in the Commons, MPs voted on Monday to throw out the amendment.

The Bill now passes back to the Lords, and campaigners are hoping they will decide to re-install the exemption. If they do, the proposed legislation will be passed back to the Commons – as early as next week – and another review by a committee of MPs.

Hamish Birchall, a spokesman for the Musicians' Union, said: "It is likely that Lords will reintroduce a small events exemption and the Government will then have to decide whether to agree a compromise, or perhaps try to head off opposition with points. If the Lords and the Commons dig their heels in, the Bill will be caught in a 'ping pong' situation, passed back and forth between the two houses, the last thing the Government wants."

If the Bill becomes law, the two-in-a-bar rule, which allows a landlord to have one or two musicians play in a pub without needing an entertainment licence, would also be abolished.

A landlord would need to apply to the local authority for a new premises licence to stage any musical performance.

But because of the expensive conditions which may be insisted upon by health and safety, there are fears that live music will become too costly for many pubs.

MP for North Devon and Lib-Dem spokesman for culture Nick Harvey said: ""Some kind of small premises exemption is necessary to avoid live music becoming encumbered by this regime."


Dorset Echo 19 June 2003 [Evening]
Campaigning musician travels to Downing Street

Pub music protest is taken to the top
By Matt Pitman
matt.pitman@dorsetecho.co.uk

A musician who spearheaded a campaign against controversial changes to licensing laws went to the top in protest.

Roger Gall, from Portland, has been instrumental in the battle against plans to introduce licensing at pubs providing entertainment for two or more people.

Now Mr Gall has taken a petition signed by 110,000 people nationwide, which he began on the internet, to Downing Street with members of the Musicians' Union and other musical organisations.

The group wants small premises to be exempt from the new regime, which if it becomes law would mean live music must then be licensed by their local authority.

The two-in-a-bar rule, which currently allows a landlord to have one or two musicians play in a pub without needing an entertainment licence, would also be abolished.

Mr Gall said there are fears pubs will simply abandon live music altogether rather than pay for the licence. He said: "It was nice to present the petition and show the Government just how strong people feel about this issue. "It is a crazy situation which we will continue to fight until the Government sees sense. "As it stands, the Bill makes no distinction between something like the Glastonbury Festival and Punch and Judy on Weymouth Beach."

The Bill is currently being debated in the House of Commons and Lords and could come into force later this year.

West Dorset singer Billy Bragg, who lives near Burton Bradstock, added: "People not only get pleasure from listening to music, many enjoy playing once a month at their local pub or club. This Bill, if implemented as it stands, will severely curtail that enjoyment."

Musicians' Union general secretary John Dixon said: This petition, established by folk musicians Graham Dixon and Roger Gall, has demonstrated the degree of public support for live music. "We welcomed the Government's decision in February to exempt churches and garden fetes from the entertainment licensing requirements, but a great deal of live performance remains unnecessarily caught in the licensing net."