THE Government's planned licensing bill is a piece of nanny state, Taliban-style legislation, according to the vice-chairman of Kent brewers Shepherd Neame.

Stuart Neame said he was particularly concerned that the proposed law will stop one or two live musicians from playing in pubs unless the landlord has obtained a licence. At the moment up to two people can play music without an entertainment licence being needed.

Mr Neame said: "For about a century one or two musicians have been able to play in pubs without licences and this has caused little problem. Now the Government is saying that the local authority must license all live music.

"Pubs can apply for such a licence but before they are issued the council will check the pub for safety and noise standards and that is quite over the top as far as most normal pubs are concerned."

Mr Neame said he knew of landlords who had faced bills of thousands of pounds to meet council requirements.

"Most pub landlords will not be applying for licences because they can't upgrade their buildings and it is not worth while just for one or two musicians," Mr Neame said.

He said he feared it would mean the end of live music in small pubs and added that the present Noise Act was the right way to deal with any problems.

"The Government is setting up special standards for live music," Mr Neame said. "I have been 30 years in this business and I can recall just one complaint about live music which concerned one or two musicians.

"In fact, we get more complaints about recorded music, especially in the summer when windows are open."

Mr Neame said he was also concerned about the effect the law would have on up-and-coming performers.

"My son is a musician and he and his friends got their first experiences of playing live in pubs," he said. "It is the way these young people cut their teeth but soon there won't be any places where young and inexperienced players can perform.

"I think it is terribly important that people tell their MPs that this is nanny state, Taliban-style legislation which is anticipating problems which do not exist with the result that no one will be able to enjoy themselves."