Hamish Birchall Bulletin
Monday 21st December 2009 - Live music bill debate set for 15 January
Lord Clement-Jones' live music
bill is to get a full debate in the House of Lords on Friday 15th January
2010, probably in the afternoon: If enacted it would amend the Licensing Act to exempt a range of small
gigs: The bill also proposes a definition of 'minimal amplification' which
would allow amplification to be used by one or two performers, provided
it does not predominate over unamplified instruments. The wording was
derived in part from the discussion of music volume already set out in
the 'incidental music' section of the government's Licensing Guidance,
paragraph 3.22 (secondary legislation that accompanies the Act): Link to PDF file of Lord Clement-Jones' bill: The debate will include a response from a government minister or spokesperson, but would not conclude with a vote. Provided no hostile amendments are tabled, it would go to a formal Committee stage about two weeks later. If such amendments were tabled, another debate would be required. Assuming no delays, after a further two weeks the bill would get a formal 3rd reading, and could then go to the House of Commons. By that time, however, the bill could be thwarted by an imminent general election - the same obstacle facing the government with its yet to be fulfilled promise of swift action on a small gigs exemption consultation. Despite this, the live music bill, which is supported by UK Music, represents an invaluable opportunity to keep the case for exemptions on the Parliamentary and media agenda. ENDS Hamish Birchall |
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