Schedule 1 - Provision of regulated entertainment
Licensing Bill [Lords]
9:45 am
Dr Kim Howells (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Culture, Media & Sport; Pontypridd, Labour)
No, I have not.
My hon. Friend the Member for Waveney drew comparisons with material that might be broadcast through a television set and mentioned martial arts events. They have never been licensed but music played by more than two in a bar has always been licensed. We are not extending licensing: we are trying to make it easier for licensed music to take place. My hon. Friend should recognise that.
We have not been adding up the number of complaints about music or anything else. As I have tried to argue, other factors are involved in the performance of live music that may vary, and often it is difficult to differentiate between one form of music and another and what their likely effects will be. Our
argument is that it will be much easier if there is a level playing field for all music: that would make it much easier to stage music events throughout the country. The Musicians Union initially made that argument.