One reason for the Government's position was a letter from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) sent to Secretary of State Tessa Jowell on 20 June urging Jowell to reverse the exemption. However, ACPO's focus was not pubs, but on events in premises where they have no powers of closure - in other words, places without a premises licence for alcohol.

ACPO's letter included this comment: 'The differences [between heavy metal and string quartets] extend not only to the level of noise emanating from the venue (which could be a venue outdoors) but also to the type of clientele attending the event and which therefore may give rise to concerns regarding crime, disorder and nuisance and also issues surrounding the protection of children from harm'. Arguable perhaps, but just because heavy metal exists, why should that justify a blanket licensing requirement on string quartets and solo pianists?

Talk about shooting one's self in the foot. So the Government ignore ACPO's letter with their concerns for TV sport in unlicensed pubs and then make a central part of their case a letter that calls into question their own Bill lifting the of any entertainment licensing controls in ALL of London's churches!

If they claim that any entertainment in churches will not ever attract the same "type of clientele attending the event and which therefore may give rise to concerns regarding crime, disorder and nuisance and also issues surrounding the protection of children from harm',   They may have to accept that the concern is really to alcohol and social issues , rather than music. These are not concerns that can be solved by advanced blanket entertainment licensing.

It is rather easy for the Government to scare people with lies and myths about the effects of lifting blanket entertainment licensing - perhaps they should be asked via our MPs, to provide the evidence to prove how efficient the current system has actually been in addressing any of these scares' stories and social concerns