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| THE PEL LAW IN THE UK - is it Killing Traditionl Music? |
| SNIPPITS ‘TWO IN A BAR’ LAW CHANGE DELAYED Government blames pressure on Parliamentary time Changes to regulations covering public entertainment licences, which cover the notorious ‘two in a bar’ rule, have been delayed it has been announced in Parliament. Culture Minster Dr Kim Howells answered a Parliamentary Question on 21 January saying that the delay was solely down to pressures on parliamentary time, and that legislation would be introduced as soon as time allowed. Equity has been campaigning for some time for changes to public entertainment licences (PEL). The two in a bar rule requires venues wanting to provide entertainment involving more than two people to get a public entertainment licence from their local council. Currently, local councils are able to decide how much a PEL will cost, and what restrictions to place on the venue. This flexibility means that some councils often set very high fees for a PEL or make unnecessary requirements on a venue. This situation seemed to be coming to an end with the April 2000 publication of a Government White Paper Time for Reform. If the White Paper proposals were to be wholly incorporated without change, it would introduce a single integrated scheme for licensing premises with each ‘premise licence’ including conditions on hours, noise limits and capacity. This would remove the possibility of councils setting exorbitant fees for licences and increase the possibility of more venues applying for them. Additionally, in a debate in the House of Lords on 11 December 2000, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Home Office), Lord Bassam of Brighton stated that the Government proposed to remove the requirement to obtain a PEL where the entertainment provided consists of more than two performers. It was expected that the new legislation making these changes would be introduced in the 2001 Queen’s Speech. Despite some indication from Government that it was to be included (such as a press release in May 2001), the legislative timetable proved too heavy and it was dropped. However, in a Parliamentary Question, answered on 21 January, Dr Kim Howells, MP confirmed that the delay to the implementation of the White Paper was solely down to pressures on parliamentary time, and that legislation would be introduced as soon as time allowed. Equity’s understanding is that it is ‘more than likely’ that time for the legislation would be found early this year. When Equity meets again with Dr Kim Howells to discuss a variety of issues, the introduction of this legislation will be one of the things we will press him on. |
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