Councils push for licensing revamp

The system of licensing children to perform should be overhauled to ensure they are better protected, the Local Government Association has said.

The LGA said the number of child performance licences issued annually by councils was projected to have doubled from 2000-1 to 2005-6, fuelled by reality television, and the existing system was dated.

Licences are required when children are paid or need to take time off from school to perform, but the LGA said that some situations, such as auditions, were not covered by the existing system, and there was a lack of awareness of the need to register.

Les Lawrence, chair of the LGA’s children and young people board said: “Many amateur dramatic clubs aren’t aware of the need for licences, while unscrupulous outfits operating underground need to be stopped.”