Licensing Of Entertainment In Churches

EDM number 208 in 2002-03, proposed by John Whittingdale on 27/11/2002.

That this House expresses concern that the provisions of the Licensing Bill now before Parliament, requiring entertainment licences for all venues used for more than five public performances a year, will have a seriously adverse affect on functions held in churches, church halls and cathedrals; believes that it is bound to lead to the cancellation of vital fund-raising events at these venues because of the increased cost of acquiring the relevant licences and will deter churches from staging fund-raising and community activities such as concerts and even nativity plays with live music; and calls on the Government to reconsider this ill thought-out proposal.

This motion has been signed by a total of 99 MPs.