Hamish Birchall Bulletin
Wednesday 16th July 2008 - Consultation on small gigs exemption delayed?
On 7th May, in response to a written question by Liberal Democrat peer Tim Clement Jones (HL3291), Lord Davies of Oldham suggested that the government's public consultation on licensing exemptions for low risk gigs would be carried out 'by the summer'.
The summer will be over in a few weeks, and there is no sign that this consultation has even begun. It is now more than a year since the Musicians' Union and the erstwhile Live Music Forum publicly concluded that the Licensing Act 2003 had harmed small gigs, and called on the government to create, as a matter of urgency, a new exemption for such events within the Act.
On Monday 14th July Lord Clement Jones tabled a further written question (HL4889), asking the government: '... what is their current timetable for conducting a public consultation on licensing exemptions for low risk musical performances; and whether this consultation will take place over the summer.'
The government's answer is expected by 28 July.
Link (scroll down to Questions for Written Answer or search on page for 'Clement'):
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/minutes/080715/ldordpap.htm
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