To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will (a) amend the Policing and Crime Bill so that the new regulation of lap dancing and other sexual encounter venues is mandatory for local authorities; and (b) remove the exemption from that regulation for venues hosting lap dancing less frequently than once a month. [HL1645]

The Government are confident that the provisions in the Policing and Crime Bill to reclassify lap-dancing clubs as sex-encounter venues will give local communities the necessary powers to control the number and location of lap-dancing clubs.

However, in the light of concerns raised during the Committee stage in the House of Commons regarding the exemption and optional nature of the provisions, the Government have agreed to look into these issues further and are currently considering whether any amendments are required.