MPs 'want to relax live restrictions'

A group of MPs has called for the relaxation of restrictions on live music introduced four years ago.

The culture media and sport select committee said that the "draconian" Licensing Act 2003, which came into force in 2005, has had a negative affect on performances, the BBC reports.

The law states that all pubs and venues need a license to host live music performances, no matter how small.

Conservative MP John Whittingdale said: "We were particularly concerned to hear of the way the Act may be hampering live music performances, especially by young musicians, who often get their first break though performing live at small venues such as pubs."

The select committee also called for the scrapping of form 696, which requires license owners in London to report the target audience and music genre of concerts to the police 14 days before an event.

Additionally, it requested the reintroduction of the "two-in-a-bar" exemption that allowed venues of any size to present non-amplified performances by one or two musicians.

Former Undertones frontman Fergal Sharkey said: "It is vital that tomorrow's superstars and young musicians have somewhere to ply their craft, somewhere to play and that communities have a place to gather together."