Patsy McGlone 8th October 2009

MCGLONE: CONCERN OVER ENTERTAINMENT LICENCE FEE HIKE

SDLP Mid-Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone has expressed his concern to the Environment Minister about the recent hike in entertainment licences fees and proposals by the DOE to increase these fees further.

Mr McGlone said: “The entertainment industry faces difficult times in this economic crisis as all businesses do and any increase in their running costs at this time must be carefully considered.

“Given that the fees have remained static for some time, a rise in the entertainment licence fee was inevitable. But to increase those costs by over 100% at the lowest level and by over 500% at the highest level is likely to cause very real difficulties for the businesses involved.

“On top of this massive hike in the licence fee, the department is already signalling that it intends to increase the fees further in order to double the income generated for local Councils.

“The Minister may have consulted on this, but these increases in costs for the entertainment industry are ill-timed and ill-considered.

“I had asked the previous minister, Sammy Wilson, not to make such drastic rises, but he ignored the needs of these small businesses. I have written to the current Minister to ask him to look at reducing these, and I hope he will have more empathy with our struggling small businesses.”


NOTES TO EDITORS:

The entertainment licence fee hike, which covers theatrical performances, dancing, singing or music or any other entertainment of a like kind, as well as some indoor sports events, came into effect on 1st September 2009.

The maximum fee payable for indoor entertainment under the previous system was £160 whereas the maximum fee now is £1000.

ENDS