The controversial Licensing Bill, which, if passed, will require all premises other than churches to be licensed if the intention is to host regular public live performances, is facing a turbulent passage though parliament.
A series of proposed amendments to the Bill were overturned by the House of Commons earlier this month, though the Government did agree that the number of Temporary Event Notices allowed per premises per year should increase from 5 to 12. However when the Bill subsequently returned to the House of Lords for consideration, opposition peers voted to reinstate an exemption to licensing for small venues, provided an event ends by 11.30pm and no more than 200 people attend at any one time. The Government has resisted this amendment on both health and safety and crime and disorder grounds, and the police and the Local Government Association both oppose the exemption in its current form. The Musicians Union (MU) is continuing to lobby against the so-called ?none-in-a-bar? rule. To participate, see the MU website at http://www.musiciansunion.org.uk.