Minister backs plan to set limits on lap dancing bars

COUNCILS will be handed new powers to ban lap dancing clubs under a surprise proposal from the Scottish Government.

Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill said he backed the idea put forward by SNP backbencher Sandra White of allowing local authorities to limit the number of lap dance venues in their area. Ms White has made clear she hopes that limit would be set at zero.

MSPs will vote on the plan next month when the Criminal Justice Bill reaches its final stage.

There are currently seven lap dancing venues in the Capital, clustered around Tollcross.

Mr MacAskill announced his move when he appeared before the parliament's justice committee yesterday as it debated a late amendment tabled by Ms White.

Her plan to give councils more powers over lap dance venues was backed by the Edinburgh-based Zero Tolerance Trust, which said lap dancing was a form of commercial sexual exploitation.

In a submission to the committee, the trust said: "We regard the proliferation of lap dancing clubs as harmful to women individually, women collectively, and communities, and support measures to prevent this."

But Scottish Ballet, the Festival Fringe Society and the Federation of Scottish Theatre warned Ms White's amendment was worded in such a way it would cover all shows which involved nudity and could prohibit some performances.

Mr MacAskill told the committee: "We understand and support Sandra White's wish for communities to be able to refuse to host venues which provide this type of entertainment.

"We do support the policy intention behind the amendment but there are drafting difficulties with the amendment in its present form which will have to be addressed.

"I would therefore ask Sandra White to withdraw her amendment with an offer from us to assist and support a stage 3 amendment which clarifies exactly when an adult entertainment licence is required and the premises for which it is required."

Ms White accepted the government offer of assistance to "clarify" her amendment.

The Glasgow MSP told the committee that lap dancing clubs "objectify women".

Labour MSP James Kelly pointed out the committee had not taken any oral evidence on the proposal.

Liberal Democrat Robert Brown warned it would be difficult to take away licences from existing venues.

Committee convener Tory MSP Bill Aitken said: "I would question whether the legislation is necessary. It seems to me local authorities have this power under the 2005 Licensing Act, where they can refuse licences."