To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the Licensing Act 2003 on live entertainment in public houses, with particular reference to the removal of the two in a bar exemption. (144691)

Current assessments are largely anecdotal and suggest a broadly neutral impact in terms of live music performances in pubs.

A survey of smaller venues we carried out in 2006 showed that nearly three-quarters of the 7 per cent. of venues that had ever put on music using the two in a bar exemption now have a licence for live music. Those who did not apply stated that they chose not to because their premises were either unsuitable, or they would not use it. This research is available in the Libraries of the House and on the DCMS website:

www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/Research/research_by_dcms/live_music_exec_summary.htm

The Live Music Forum has been monitoring the early effects of the Act on live music and is due to publish its assessment shortly. Our own planned research into the current provision of live music will look at premises including pubs, and will be completed by the end of the year.