The following from Hamish Birchall http://www.livemusicforum.co.uk/

The Musicians Union is now 'happy with Form 696' and is no longer calling 
for it to be scrapped.

The u-turn follows changes agreed between the union and the Metropolitan 
Police:
http://www.musiciansunion.org.uk/site/cms/v4_newsArticleView.asp?article=899

According to the MU website announcement, dated 8th October, the Form now 
'clearly states that it is "not primarily intended for a live music event." 
Promoters using it for a live music event are asked for their reasons' and 
'... that it should be used for events that "predominantly feature DJs or 
MCs performing to a recorded backing track".'

Event risk assessment Form 696, which requires a venue to disclose 
performers' names, addresses and dates of birth, two weeks before a 
performance, was originally introduced by the Met in 2003.  However, it only 
came to wide public attention during evidence from Feargal Sharkey to the 
Culture, Media and Sport Committee's Licensing Act inquiry in November 2008. 
The real problem appeared to be the shift from voluntary participation for 
venues with a history of problems, to potentially enforced compliance 
through the Licensing Act for almost any gig.  Most of the 33 London 
councils have adopted it as a potential licence condition, in tandem with a 
definition of qualifying events drafted by the Met that captures almost 
every conceivable performance.

Questions on the Form about the ethnic make-up of the audience and genres of 
live music led to strong criticism from the music industry, including 
threats of judicial review from Feargal Sharkey, negative coverage in the 
national press and on broadcast media.  Under pressure, the Met removed 
these questions earlier this year.

The Musicians Union u-turn was confirmed at the Music Tank 'Live music: 
Licensed to Thrill' seminar held in London last Tuesday, 13th October.  See 
this online Billboard coverage, dated 14th October:
http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3ibadf593c28401ee83cf83024591e52db

And today's Publican article 'Fresh attack on government over live music 
laws':
http://www.thepublican.com/story.asp?sectioncode=7&storycode=65462&c=1

It is clear that the MU no longer backs the Number 10 petition calling for 
Form 696 to be scrapped:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Scrapthe696/

The petition gained over 18,000 signatures since it was launched in December 
2008. It will close on 2nd December.

The Met is due to publish the revised Form 696 tomorrow, Friday 16th 
October.  However, use of the Form, which despite the new changes can still 
apply to live music, will be at the discretion of the local authority and 
the police.  Reliable sources suggest that the Met will issue new guidance 
to local authorities on the type of event to which the Form will apply, with 
the emphasis being on larger venues where DJs and MCs perform to recorded 
music, and where there is, in their view, the potential for serious violent 
crime.  The Met's Clubs & Vice unit will be evaluating the use of the new 
Form over the next six months.

ENDS