The Live Music Bill is within touching distance of becoming law as it successfully passed through its final stage in the House of Commons today.

Having been approved in its Third Reading, the Bill will now go back to the House of Lords to have the final Commons amendments approved. With the biggest hurdles now overcome, the Bill will reduce the crippling effect that red tape and bureaucracy has on small venues in Bath and across the country. By removing unnecessary licensing restrictions it will help struggling pubs and clubs and boost the UK’s grassroots music scene.

The Live Music Bill was tabled in the Lords by the Liberal Democrat peer, Lord Tim Clement Jones. Don Foster is the Bill’s sponsor in the House of Commons.

Commenting, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party Committee on Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, Don Foster said:

“Private Members’ Bills are rarely passed, and it’s even rarer that they do so with the unanimous support of every MP as happened today.

“The current system has had a deadening effect on the performance of live music in small venues. At the moment, the landlord of a small pub could face a big fine and imprisonment for letting a customer play a piano without a licence.

“The support received this afternoon from all MPs from all political parties just goes to show how important live music is in our country and the overwhelming support for changing our obstructive licensing laws.

“We’re now only one step away from the Bill becoming law and creating an even more vibrant and successful live music culture. This will benefit hundreds of small pubs, restaurants, schools, churches and community halls, and strengthen the British music scene immensely.”