The musician, who is a member of a think-tank called the Music Industry Forum, is meeting the Culture Secretary Chris Smith on Monday.

Other members of the forum include Beatles producer Sir George Martin and Creation Records boss Alan McGee, as well as music retailer publishers and promoters.

£3.5bn per year

At its first meeting a year ago Hucknall said: "I have already made my millions. This is not about me. It is about the 16-year-olds coming up."

Although live venues are unlikely to receive extra money from the government, Mr Smith said: "The United Kingdom has an unrivalled reputation for world class musical talent, and the music industry itself contributes more than £3.5bn per year to the British economy.

"The continuing vitality of the UK music industry depends on opportunities and venues being available to young performers and the government is determined to do what it can to help the musicians of the future develop their talents, benefiting young people themselves, their communities, our culture and our economy."

Last year Mr McGee, head of Oasis's record company, made it clear that the government's New Deal for jobless young people could badly affect struggling bands by forcing them to seek work rather than practice. The government is now making an exception for those unemployed who can prove they are pursuing a musical career.