Remit
Membership of the independent Working Group which looked at Scotland's adult entertainment industry was announced on March 24, 2005.
The Group was chaired by Linda Costelloe Baker, Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman, and investigated the scope and extent of adult entertainment activity across Scotland. Research was carried out to identify and assess any impacts on people who work in the industry, and local communities, with a view to identifying any controls required to regulate the industry.
Announcing the membership, Finance and Public Service Reform Minister, Tom McCabe, said:
"The Executive is committed to ensuring that people working in the adult entertainment industry are protected, and that controls on the industry are as robust and effective as possible.
"We are taking a two-pronged approach to adult entertainment activity in Scotland. Firstly, through the Licensing (Scotland) Bill, and, secondly, through this Working Group.
"The Licensing (Scotland) Bill contains powers which will be used to prescribe measures for regulating adult entertainment in licensed premises. Through the Bill, the Executive will introduce regulations for national mandatory licence conditions as well as considering whether any additional conditions should be imposed on the industry.
"The Working Group will review the scope and impact of adult entertainment in Scotland, and make recommendations to Ministers on the way forward".
The Licensing (Scotland) Bill was enacted on 21 December 2005, and became The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.
The Working Group was a short-life group with a working period from April 2005 until April 2006. The Working Group reported their recommendations to Ministers on 25 April 2006.
The terms of reference for the Working Group were as follows:
to identify all relevant activities (whilst recognising the need not to suppress artistic 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