This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Control of 'adult entertainment'
24/02/2005
An independent Working Group has been established to
examine the issue of protection for people working in, and
affected by, the adult entertainment industry.
One key issue the Group will consider is exactly what is
defined as adult entertainment.
Responding to a Parliamentary Question from Pauline
McNeill MSP, Finance and Public Service Reform Minister
Tom McCabe said:
"The Executive intends to take a stronger approach to
adult entertainment activity - including lap dancing -
recognising the concerns being expressed about it.
"We are taking a two stage approach to the issue that
will lead to new powers to regulate adult entertainment and
an independent review of this area.
"Firstly, the Licensing (Scotland) Bill, which will be
introduced shortly, will contain powers which will be used
to prescribe measures for regulating adult entertainment on
licensed premises.
"The Executive will introduce regulations for mandatory
national licence conditions - as proposed by the Expert
Reference Group - which are as wide-ranging and effective
as possible. We are considering whether any additional
licence conditions should be imposed.
"Secondly, we are setting up a time-limited Working
Group to review the scope and impact of adult entertainment
activity and make recommendations on the way forward. The
Group will be able to commission robust and reliable
research and consider adult entertainment activity wherever
it takes place, not just on licensed premises.
"The terms of reference for the Working Group are as
follows:
- to identify all relevant activities (whilst
recognising the need not to suppress rtistic
freedom)
- to consult with all relevant interest groups
(including women's groups; and employees and employers
in the adult entertainment industry)
- to commission research into the activities and
associated impacts (using anonymous sources where
appropriate)
- to identify and assess relevant types of controls,
including the implementation and impact of any
controls
- to recognise the need to balance local and
national interests
- to take account of concurrent work on prostitution
and regulations for lap dancing in licensed
premises
- to report to Ministers with recommendations
"I am pleased to announce that Mrs Linda Costelloe
Baker, the Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman, has agreed to
chair the Working Group. Further details about the
composition and operation of the Group will be announced
shortly.
"These measures clearly show that the Executive takes
adult entertainment issues seriously. In taking this
forward, work will be carried out to look at any impact of
adult entertainment activity on local communities and the
dancers themselves, and a key issue will be the protection
of the people who work in this area."