Steve Beasant

“Today’s announcement has shown us yet again that for all of Cameron’s posturing, the Tories can’t be trusted to deliver on the environment,” said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Simon Hughes. 

Commenting on the Conservative’s Energy Security Green Paper, Simon Hughes said: “Blindly pledging to build a new nuclear plant every 18 months is a recipe for disaster.

“Nuclear power has always required huge amounts of public money and David Cameron’s signal that the Tories are ready to turn on the taps of taxpayer support risks billions that we simply can’t afford.

“Nuclear energy is not clean energy. A new generation of nuclear power stations would leave us with a legacy of deadly radioactive waste that will take hundreds of years and billions of pounds to clean up.

“As David Cameron himself said only four years ago, not having a plan to deal with this toxic legacy is completely irresponsible.

“Today’s announcement has shown us yet again that for all of Cameron’s posturing, the Tories can’t be trusted to deliver on the environment.”

Speaking on the BBC earlier today, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster suggested that the BBC had made poor decisions in choosing to cut the radio stations 6 Music and the Asian Network.

BBC director general Mark Thompson today outlined plans to scrap the two radio stations and slim down the corporation’s website.

When asked where he would seek to find savings, Don Foster had his own suggestions of how the BBC could make efficiencies without hitting popular services.

“Many people would look at for instance BBC 3 on our TV which doesn’t in my view offer the same level of distinctiveness that 6 Music and the Asian Channel does.”

But Don Foster welcomed the plans outlined today, saying they brought more clarity to the BBC.

“Greater clarity, greater focus. I welcome that but of course there are some parts of what they’re proposing, not least the closure of 6 Music, which do concern me.”

“While the BBC has become overgrown in some areas and needs pruning, the Licence Fee payers must have their say about what’s to go,” said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster. 

Commenting ahead of today’s publication of the BBC strategy which could see its website scaled back and radio stations 6 Music and Asian Network closed, Don Foster said: “Today’s report signals the end of the BBC roaming wherever it fancied. The decision to focus on high quality UK content is welcome.

“However, I am not convinced that using 6 Music and the Asian Network as sacrificial lambs to pay for it is the right approach.

“While the BBC has become overgrown in some areas and needs pruning, the Licence Fee payers must have their say about what’s to go.”

While many vulnerable people and pensioners struggled to keep their homes warm this winter, British Gas made massive profits – they recorded a 58% surge in annual profits to nearly £600m - the government has now called on British Gas to immediately cut its prices. 

The Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, led a chorus of disapproval over huge fuel bills facing British householders struggling through one of the coldest winters in decades. 

“British Gas has made a start in cutting prices and we want to see other companies following suit, as well as seeing more reductions from British Gas,” the minister said. 

The Liberal Democrats said Britain’s six major domestic energy providers were guilty of “predatory activities” and argued that it was vital their market dominance was curbed. “These massive profits show that the energy companies are out of control and their regulator is out of action,” said Liberal Democrat Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Simon Hughes. 

“Liberal Democrats will change the rules so that fuel bills reflect fuel costs and consumers are not ripped off again and again.”  

Simon Hughes also said: “The six big beasts of the energy jungle must be tamed immediately – to stop their predatory activities which are so dangerous to the public.

“Liberal Democrats will change the rules so that fuel bills reflect fuel costs and consumers are not ripped off again and again.”  

British Gas showed no sign of changing direction, saying its financial success in 2009 compared with anomalous results in the preceding year, when operating profits had been lower than normal. The company, which serves more than 10m homes with gas or electricity, claimed the operating profits after tax amounted to £38 a household and overall bills were only slightly higher than they had been in the previous 12 months. 

Sam Laidlaw, the chief executive of British Gas’s parent group, Centrica, blamed the country’s poorly insulated housing stock for high bills and said power was cheap here compared with continental Europe. “We have reduced our prices three times in the last 12 months and we will do what we can do when we can,” he said, before warning wholesale power prices for next winter looked “very volatile”. 

Laidlaw said British Gas profit margins were relatively slim compared with large companies in other sectors, such as BT. Energy firms needed to make money to meet the regulator’s goal of finding £200bn of new investments to meet energy security and climate change targets, he said. 

Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch.com, a price comparison website, said it was obvious that energy suppliers were reaping the benefits of cheaper oil and gas. Scottish Power reported 24 hours earlier that its profits in 2009 rose by 8%. 

“With Britain’s biggest supplier reporting a 58% increase in residential profits in the same week that Ofgem, the industry regulator, reported an estimated £30 increase in suppliers’ margins [on the average bill], the weight of evidence in favour of further price cuts is stacking up,” she said.

Nick Harvey says: “At a time when the Charity Commission is reporting that 58% of its members have been affected by the recession, the government should be supporting the work of the voluntary sector, not creating further financial burdens that will restrict their vital work in communities across the UK, including North Devon.  

“These changes are ludicrous and disproportionate, and could include a charitable youth centre holding a disco, a carers’ association playing music to entertain the children, or charity shops whose volunteers listen to the radio in the staff room. 

“The Government must act now to stop these unfair rule changes and protect the income of the not-for-profit sector in these already challenging economic times.” 

Details of the EDM 318 are available at: http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=39878&SESSION=903 

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations have launched a campaign to maintain the exemption for not-for-profit organisations from licensing to play pre-recorded music called ‘Don’t stop the music’, available at http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/dontstopthemusic

Liberal Democrat peer, Lord Clement-Jones’s Live Music Bill has its third reading in the House of Lords today after which it goes to the Commons. It has sailed through previous stages in the Lords with no amendments. 

The Bill proposes that schools, hospitals, colleges, and small venues up to a capacity of 200 should not need a licence for a live music performance, and that the “two-in-a-bar” exemption should be reinstated.

The Government’s 2003 Licensing Act means live musical performances must have a licence or the organisers risk criminal prosecution.

Lord Clement-Jones said: “The Government’s stubborn refusal to accept the recommendations of the Culture, Media and Sport select committee that licensing be relaxed for live music is short-sighted and illiberal.

“Live music used to be at the core of our society. But it’s harder for someone to play the piano in a bar now than it was in 1899.

“We should be supporting small venues not strangling them with red tape. More live music in our pubs would mean more punters and fewer pubs closing.

“My Bill is the only chance to change the law before the general election and breathe new life in to the live music scene. I challenge the Government to explain why they will not support it.”

Despite the Government’s pledge to give away 1 million free theatre tickets over 2 years, 10 months into the scheme just 177,000 tickets have been made available, research by the Liberal Democrats has revealed. 

The latest statistics on the Free Theatre Scheme for under-26s released by Arts Council England show that:

Ø       10 months into the scheme just 177,345 tickets have been made available – 17,735 a month

Ø       Only two thirds (121,345) of the tickets offered have been taken up

Ø       At this rate of take-up it would take nearly seven years to reach the Government’s original target for the scheme

Ø       The pledge was subsequently downgraded to 600,000 tickets – at the current rate the Government will be way off this target as well  

Commenting on the figures, Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster said: “These figures are a disgrace and the Government ought to be ashamed. It is no wonder they were buried in a little visited area of the Arts Council’s website.

“The resources and forward planning needed to make a scheme like this work were never there.

“This money could have been much better used supporting youth theatre groups or providing drama in schools.

“Sadly, it seems ministers are more interested in making wildly optimistic promises to grab headlines than actually broadening access to the arts.”

Sounds from across the globe will be heard when a new world music festival takes place across the region from 5th – 7th March.

North East Lincolnshire Council’s Arts Development Team is organising the weekend of exciting live performances – featuring local, regional and national artists at various venues.

Friday 5th will see internationally renowned Afro-Celtic cross-over band, Baka Beyond, perform at St James’ Church in Grimsby. Inspired by the Baka Forest People in Cameroon, they are one of the finest danceable bands performing today and present an uplifting and dynamic stage show.

Support on the night will come from The Zagros Band – a three piece performing exciting Eastern European influenced tunes, with nods to folk, jazz and classical music. Tickets to see both bands £10 advance/£12 on the door / under 12s £5 advance/£6 on the door, available from Caxton Box Office at Grimsby Library – 01472 346251 – or Cleethorpes Tourist Information Centre at Cleethorpes Library.

Saturday 6th sees the festival shining the spotlight on the wealth of local ‘world music’ talent that exists in the area. Sambalada – Lincolnshire’s premier samba band – and Merlin’s Keep – Grimsby-based Celtic folk rock band will deliver two live performances each throughout the day in Victoria Street.

Alongside them Steel the Rhythm - North East Lincolnshire’s steel pan band – will showcase their Caribbean sound – between 12pm and 1pm in St James’ Church. Offering the perfect opportunity to take a break from shopping and soak up some vibes.

Meanwhile in Cleethorpes on Saturday, children between the ages of 5 and 11 are invited to join community arts group Artlandish at Cleethorpes Discovery Centre at a free drop in session between 11am and 3pm to make their own musical instruments.

Visitors to the Discovery Centre can also enjoy the relaxing sound of the sitar and tabla, courtesy of Bandish Duet, who will be performing throughout there throughout the day.

Saturday night gives the adults a chance to chill – jazz vocalist Lyn Acton joins Saudade, a percussionist and guitar duo, for an evening of classy, laid back bossa nova. This event is being hosted by Hot Sauce at Mercer’s Café Bar in Seaview Street. Hot Sauce DJs Jon Cox and Jimmy Jazz will complements the trios live sets by filling two floors with world-wide sounds. Tickets are £5 to include canapés, available from Mercers or www.hotsaucenights.co.uk

Sunday, it’s up and at it again with plenty to tantalise those musical tastebuds, with a range of free performances and events.J

oin Sambalada’s leader for a family samba drumming workshop – aimed at ages 8 – 16 with accompanying adult/s – back at the Discovery Centre between 11am and 1pm. Following the workshop the group will make a short performance with the students from the Grimsby School of Samba outside the centre.

Simultaneously those out and about can enjoy numerous free performances at the Discovery Centre and the Kingsway Kiosk (café on end of promenade opposite Cleethorpes Leisure Centre) and along the seafront, weather permitting.

Cuban trio the Humba Rhumbas, The Hut People and Merlin’s Keep are among the bands performing.

Further down, at the Meridian Point Craft Centre join the Kingsway Printers Cleethorpes Band as well as the B-band and Junior Band as they perform live from 12pm onwards outside the craft units incorporating global sounds into their wide-ranging repertoire, again weather permitting.

Finally, the festival draws to a close with ‘Lazy Sundays’ at Willy’s Wine Bar from 5pm. DJs Gordon Blyth and Robbie Peru take you around the world via ‘anything that grooves’.

For further information or to receive a full programme in the post, call 01472 323382 or email charlotte.bowen@nelincs.gov.uk. Alternatively download a PDF of the leaflet from www.nelincs.gov.uk/leisure/arts.

The Live Music Bill aims to make it easier for musicians to perform live by proposing a Licensing Act exemption for venues putting on music for 200 or less people and reinstating the two-in-the-bar rule, and has the backing of the Musicians’ Union, Equity, the National Campaign for the Arts and UK Music.

Lord Clement-Jones argues that the changes proposed in the Bill would boost local pub trade, and points out pubs don’t need a licence to show a live football match on TV. “Does the Government really think people who listen to live music are more of a threat to public order than football fans?” he asks.

“Small venues are vitally important to Britain’s creative culture,” Lord Clement-Jones adds. “Removing the ‘two-in-a-bar’ rule means you can’t even have a pianist in a restaurant without having to go through the palaver of applying for a licence.

“Many of our most successful musicians got their first break gigging in pubs, cafes or student unions,” Lord Clement-Jones continues, “but the Government is denying this opportunity to young musicians today by making it costly and time-consuming for small venues to apply for a licence. We risk suffocating our live music scene in red tape.”

On December 31 2009, the Government announced a 3-month consultation on its own proposals to exempt venues with audiences of less than 100. But no specific exemption for schools, hospitals and colleges is proposed, nor would the ‘two-in-the-bar’ rule be re-instated.

As Lord Clement-Jones points out, “The Government have moved slowly on this issue which suggests they are not serious about changing anything. The timing of the consultation means it will finish just before the election, with no opportunity to actually do anything. The only real chance to change the law is by supporting my Live Music Bill.”

Ø       Read the full Bill here

Ø       10 Downing Street petition calling for the Licensing Act to be changed

Comments in support of the Live Music Bill:“The Musicians’ Union is very pleased with this bill, as it supports the recommendations that were made by the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee last year which were in support of live music”.

John Smith, Musicians’ Union

“There is no doubt that the Licensing Act 2003 continues to stifle small-scale live music throughout the UK. This leaves our society and culture significantly poorer – not to mention our economy – and is potentially disastrous for the UK’s next generation of musical talent, most of whom will hone their craft in pubs, clubs and bars, and is denying jobbing musicians the opportunity to earn a living. The common sense proposals of Lord Clement-Jones’ Live Music Bill would address these issues in one stroke and have the full support of UK Music.”

Feargal Sharkey, UK Music 

“The Government’s Licensing Act has really been seen as a sledgehammer to crack a nut. It has had a detrimental effect on musicians performing in small venues and the National Campaign for the Arts is pleased to support Lord Clement-Jones’ Live Music Bill, which we believe will go a long way towards addressing the issue.”

Louise de Winter, National Campaign for the Arts

“Equity supports the Live Music Bill and calls on all members of all parties to do the same.”

Stephen Spence, EquityQuestions & Answers

Q.  Will the live music exemption for small premises in the Live Music Bill reduce local resident’s ability to object to live music being performed in a venue?

A.   No, the live music exemption is conditional which means local residents can make complaints that would potentially trigger a review of a premises license. A licensing authority can then impose conditions on a license if such complaints are upheld by a review and in extreme circumstances a license can still be revoked.

Q. Why is an exemption necessary when a licensee can already apply to vary their license for live music provision?

A.  There is a banding system for a variation of a premises licence, based on the business rates, which would enable premises to apply for live music. But this process is almost the same as a new application in terms of cost, requires 28 days public advertisement at the applicant’s cost and there is the potential for costly conditions. The Government recently brought in a new “minor variations” amendment which it claims creates a cheaper, simpler application process. But we believe that many local authorities are unlikely to consider an application for live music to be a minor variation. Indeed, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport itself has warned that many applications for live music will not qualify. In any case, places that typically do not hold a premises licence, such hospitals, schools and private homes are ineligible for the minor variations process.

Q.  Will reducing the regulatory burden on performances of live music result in an increase in crime and disorder at such events?

A.   There is no evidence to suggest that live music gigs are of greater concern with regard to crime and disorder that any other form of public gathering. Indeed one of the specific recommendations made by the Cultural, Media & Sport Committee was that the Statutory Guidance, issued under the Act, should be reviewed and reworded to “remove the overt linkage of live music with public disorder”. By way of contrast, the Licensing Act 2003 contains an explicit exemption for broadcast entertainment. This suggests that the broadcasting of a football match in a pub is considered less of a threat to potential crime and disorder than live music, when in fact the evidence tends to point the other way.

Q.  Will the Live Music Bill mean that live music can be performed at anytime, anywhere and with no further restrictions?

A. No.  The Live Music Bill is very specific about the sort of venues covered by an exemption for live music and the times at which unlicensed live music can be performed. The venue must have a licence for the sale of alcohol and have a permitted capacity of not more than 200 people. The live music can also only take place between 08:00 and 24:00 on the same day. Pubs and clubs that make use of the exemption will still need a PRS licence if musicians are performing songs or music that is still within copyright. Existing health and safety and environmental noise nuisance laws for such performances also still apply. A small gig in a bar is already covered by such legislation. The exemption for up to two performers will however mean that live music that falls under this can be performed anywhere without the need for a licence under the Licensing Act.

Q.  Why are you restricting the exemption to small scale venues?

A.  The conclusions of the DCMS select committee and the departments own research indicates that it is small scale venues whose primary purpose is not the provision of live music that have suffered a decline in live music performances under the Licensing Act. We believe that live music in this context should be treated as a normal activity in such venues, regulated by existing legislation. Specialist live music venues and festivals have not experienced a decline in the way pubs and clubs have. As mentioned in the previous question, the exemption for up to two performers will mean live music that falls under this exemption can be performed anywhere without the need for a licence.

Q.  Why do hospitals, schools and colleges need an exemption? A.  The Licensing Act as drafted does not contain specific exemptions for the performance of live music in hospitals, schools and colleges. This has meant that there have been examples of school plays, sixth form battle of the bands and music in hospital wards which have been caught by the bureaucracy of the Licensing Act. The Live Music Bill ensures that these innocuous events are free of unnecessary red tape.

Liberal Democrat Peer, Lord Clement-Jones’s Live Music Bill will be debated in the House of Lords tomorrow [Friday January15]. The bill aims to amend the Licensing Act to make it easier for musicians to perform in small venues.

This would also boost local pubs, currently closing at a rate of 52 a week according to CAMRA, which could pull in more customers with live music.

The Government’s 2003 Licensing Act means all live musical performances must have a licence or the organisers risk criminal prosecution with a potential 6 months in prison or £20,000 fine.

Lord Clement-Jones said: “The Government says live music must be licensed to prevent public disorder. But pubs don’t need a licence to show a live football match on TV. Do they really think people who listen to live music are more of a threat to public order than football fans?

“Small venues are vitally important to Britain’s creative culture. Many successful musicians got their first break gigging in pubs or student unions. But the cost and time of applying for a licence means fewer small spaces are prepared to put on live music.

“My bill proposes that schools, hospitals, colleges and venues up to a capacity of 200 should not need a licence for a live music performance, and that the “two-in-a-bar” exemption should be reinstated. Without these changes, we risk suffocating our live music scene in red tape.

“The Government is out of tune with the live music scene, and has announced yet another long consultation. Supporting my Bill is the only chance to change the law before the general election.”

Tim Clement-Jones’ Live Music Bill is backed by the Musicians’ Union, UK Music, the National Campaign for the Arts, and Equity, as well as having strong support among musicians, publicans and the music press.