Plans to allow Scottish councils to ban lap-dancing clubs have been put on hold following concerns that the proposals could catch theatre productions.
But the Scottish Government supports the principle behind the plans and intends to introduce a more tightly worded amendment soon.
The Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee raised objections to plans introduced by Sandra White MSP.
The committee suggested that the wording of her proposal could affect plays and theatre productions.
Assurance
She denies this, but was happy to withdraw her amendment because of assurances from the Scottish Government that it would give her assistance in redrafting it.
Justice Secretary Mr MacAskill said: “We support Sandra White’s wish for communities to be able to refuse to host venues which provide this type of entertainment but we have significant concerns about the amendment.
“While we do support the intention behind the amendment, there are difficulties which will require to be addressed.”
Exemption
The current law on lap-dancing means the clubs only need routine public entertainment licences.
Last week Glasgow City Council came out in favour of Mrs White’s amendment as they said intelligence suggested the lap-dancing clubs had links to the “sex industry”.
Cindy Sughrue, Chief Executive of Scottish Ballet, called on MSPs to consider an exemption for plays, related entertainment and premises used for artistic productions.
Clampdown
The proposed clampdown on lap-dancing clubs would force all such clubs to adhere to the same licensing regime as sex shops.
Glasgow Council has warned that the current system is “ineffective” and that “local authorities must have the option to refuse to license such establishments.”
Councillor Jim Coleman, acting head of Glasgow Council, described the clubs as “sexual exploitation which degrades women”.
Myth
In February a former lap-dancer revealed how girls, some under the age of 18, are routinely pushed to perform sexual acts on men in lap-dancing clubs in order to make the job pay.
In a candid interview with The Times, the ex-lap-dancer, called Milly, shattered the myth that the practice “is no more than dancing”.
“No one sticks to that,” she said. “And if you do, you quickly lose out.”