MP brands government's live music response "utterly pathetic
The government's response to MPs' calls for a relaxation of licensing laws around live music has been branded "utterly pathetic and hopeless".
John Whittingdale MP, chairman of the culture select committee, which previously made 26 recommendations to the government on licensing, launched the attack at the Musician' Union conference this week.
Tory MP Whittingdale said it was "incontestable" the Licensing Act has had a negative impact on live music.
In May, the culture select committee recommended the government re-instate the two-in-bar rule and offer licensing exemptions for venues with a capacity of 200 or less.
Concern was also raised about the Metropolitan Police's controversial Form 696, which forces pubs to state a host of details about performers, including the type of music being performed.
But the government ignored the proposals and has pointed to the minor variations process, which it says will make it cheaper and easier for pubs to host live music.
Writing in this week's Publican, a spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport says: "The new minor variations process allows licensees to make low-impact changes to premises licences more quickly and cheaply, with no need to advertise in newspapers.
"This can include the addition of authorisation for regulated entertainment, including live music.
"In all cases, the test is whether the change can have a negative impact on the licensing objectives."
He also argued that the two-in-bar rule was "very arbitrary" and discriminated against musicians who performed in larger groups.
But Whittingdale has indicated that he will continue to press the government on this issue, and debate is due to be held in the House of Commons on October 22.
Meanwhile, a petition on the 10 Downing Street website, urging the government to support the committee's recommendations on live music, has attracted more than 800 signatures in just three days.
