This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/5331694.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Conductor criticises air security Conductor criticises air security
(about 1 hour later)
UK security measures that prevent musicians from taking instruments on board planes as hand luggage have been criticised by a leading conductor.UK security measures that prevent musicians from taking instruments on board planes as hand luggage have been criticised by a leading conductor.
Mark Elder - a guest conductor for the BBC Symphony Orchestra - made the criticism in a speech on the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.Mark Elder - a guest conductor for the BBC Symphony Orchestra - made the criticism in a speech on the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.
He said performers faced "enormous difficulty" as a result of the policy.He said performers faced "enormous difficulty" as a result of the policy.
Last month the Musicians' Union said the security measures were having a "devastating impact" on musicians.Last month the Musicians' Union said the security measures were having a "devastating impact" on musicians.
It says its members "are reporting significant lost earnings" because they are unable to travel with their instruments as hand luggage. It says its members "are reporting significant lost earnings" because they are unable to travel with their instruments as hand luggage and plan to lobby Parliament.
EU discussionsEU discussions
Mr Elder's comments come as experts meet for talks on airport security in London and Toronto this week.Mr Elder's comments come as experts meet for talks on airport security in London and Toronto this week.
The European Union nations have held discussions on limiting the size of permitted hand luggage although no decision has been made. UK Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander has indicated the hand baggage restrictions may soon be eased.
Meanwhile, European Union nations have held discussions on bringing in EU-wide guidelines to hand luggage size.
Under current rules, passengers flying out of UK airports are allowed one item of cabin baggage, which must be no larger than a laptop computer bag.Under current rules, passengers flying out of UK airports are allowed one item of cabin baggage, which must be no larger than a laptop computer bag.
Travellers flying into the UK from international destinations, including the US, are not subject to the same restrictions on the size of cabin baggage.Travellers flying into the UK from international destinations, including the US, are not subject to the same restrictions on the size of cabin baggage.
It is now effectively impossible for musicians to travel by air Musical artists' letter to the TimesIt is now effectively impossible for musicians to travel by air Musical artists' letter to the Times
Passengers would, however, be required to adhere to the UK government-imposed guidelines on their return journeys.Passengers would, however, be required to adhere to the UK government-imposed guidelines on their return journeys.
Criticism of the security measures has also been made by leading musical artists, including conductor Sir Colin Davis and cellists Julian Lloyd Webber and Ralph Kirshbaum.Criticism of the security measures has also been made by leading musical artists, including conductor Sir Colin Davis and cellists Julian Lloyd Webber and Ralph Kirshbaum.
In a letter to the Times newspaper on Friday they said the UK's "enviable position" as a "great" international centre for music and the arts was under threat.In a letter to the Times newspaper on Friday they said the UK's "enviable position" as a "great" international centre for music and the arts was under threat.
"It is now effectively impossible for musicians to travel by air, since there is no way that priceless 18th Century violins or cellos, for example, can ever travel without unacceptable risk in the hold of an aircraft," they said."It is now effectively impossible for musicians to travel by air, since there is no way that priceless 18th Century violins or cellos, for example, can ever travel without unacceptable risk in the hold of an aircraft," they said.
'Concerto for Laptop''Concerto for Laptop'
A spokeswoman at the Department for Transport said instruments would have to be checked into the hold until the security situation was downgraded.A spokeswoman at the Department for Transport said instruments would have to be checked into the hold until the security situation was downgraded.
I think we would all agree that the time has come really to put an end to this unfairness Mark Elder,ConductorI think we would all agree that the time has come really to put an end to this unfairness Mark Elder,Conductor
But many instruments are too fragile to go in the hold, the Musicians' Union told BBC News.But many instruments are too fragile to go in the hold, the Musicians' Union told BBC News.
An early casualty of the restriction was New York's Orchestra of St Luke's, which cancelled an Edinburgh Festival concert and a BBC Proms appearance.An early casualty of the restriction was New York's Orchestra of St Luke's, which cancelled an Edinburgh Festival concert and a BBC Proms appearance.
And Russian musicians returning from London after the Bolshoi Theatre's season in the capital had to travel overland on the Eurostar via Paris to fly home.And Russian musicians returning from London after the Bolshoi Theatre's season in the capital had to travel overland on the Eurostar via Paris to fly home.
They were under contract to keep their instruments with them and could not check them in as hold baggage, chief conductor Alexander Vedernikov said.They were under contract to keep their instruments with them and could not check them in as hold baggage, chief conductor Alexander Vedernikov said.
Speaking on Saturday, Mr Elder said: "The one aspect of the situation that really affects us here on the platform [and that] is the enormous difficulty that so many musicians are having at the moment in travelling by plane into this country and out of it."Speaking on Saturday, Mr Elder said: "The one aspect of the situation that really affects us here on the platform [and that] is the enormous difficulty that so many musicians are having at the moment in travelling by plane into this country and out of it."
He said the situation was "greatly to be regretted".He said the situation was "greatly to be regretted".
"I think we would all agree that the time has come really to put an end to this unfairness," he added."I think we would all agree that the time has come really to put an end to this unfairness," he added.
"Otherwise it seems to me that next year we should all look forward to 'Concerto for Laptop and Orchestra'.""Otherwise it seems to me that next year we should all look forward to 'Concerto for Laptop and Orchestra'."
The Department for Transport has said the security regulations would "be in place for as long as they need to be".The Department for Transport has said the security regulations would "be in place for as long as they need to be".