Stop the Government's proposed music tax on charity and voluntary community organisations.

We the undersigned, petition the Prime Minister to scrap the proposed changes to music licensing rules which would cost charities and community groups more than £20m a year.

We are seriously concerned about the Government’s decision to repeal exemptions set out in the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988. Currently charitable groups and other not-for-profit organisations are not required to obtain a music licence from PPL (Phonographic Performance LTD) if they wish to play recorded music but the Government wants to change this from April 2010 and make charities and voluntary groups pay.

The Government’s own figures suggest this change will cost voluntary and community organisations up to £20 million more a year. This is an incredible amount of money, which can only be met by funds earmarked for charitable purposes.

This is also likely to affect a broad array of community organisations: village halls, churches, care homes, charity shops, youth clubs, scouts and guides associations and bingo halls.

We call on the Government to maintain the current exemption.