Pubco bosses face new select committee probe

by Tony Halstead

Pubco bosses could face a second round of grilling by MPs after it was revealed that last summer's Trade & Industry Select Committee probe into the trade could be set for an early resumption.

The man who led last year's inquiry, Martin O'Neill, has revealed that he is 'fairly sure the committee will re-visit the issue in the next 18 months.

The former committee chairman, now Lord O'Neill of Clack- mannan, believes the new select committee will want to see what progress the trade has made in response to the recommendations of the inquiry report.

O'Neill's comments were contained in a letter sent recently to a north-west licensee, one of hundreds of Inntrepreneur litigants eagerly awaiting the outcome of the Crehan case, which has reached its appeal stage in the Lords.

News of the possible early re-start to hostilities was welcomed by the Federation of Small Businesses whose complaints on behalf of pubco tenants initially sparked off the inquiry.

Spokesman David Bishop said it was always understood the select committee would return to the pubco inquiry within the current parliament.

'This development is very welcome and it gives an inter-esting insight into the com- mittee's thinking, he said. 'Al- though Martin O'Neill is no longer involved with the committee, I believe he is still hugely influential and has the ear of member MPs.

Among the committee's recommendations in last Dec- ember's report was a new strengthened voluntary code of practice governing a raft of pubco-tenant issues.

It also urged the Office of Fair Trading to monitor the beer retail market and keep the beer distribution chain under close scrutiny, and it recommended that urgent consideration be given to the future of tied AWP machine contract arrangements.

The British Beer & Pub Asso- ciation expressed surprise that the committee's review could be as early as in 18 months' time.

'Work on the code of prac- tice has been ongoing since last December, said spokesperson Christine Milburn. 'Martin O'Neill has undoubtedly encouraged the committee to keep the whole issue within its sights, but we would hope things would be allowed to bed down first.

Federation of Licensed Victuallers chief executive Tony Payne, who had expected an early review of the inquiry recommendations, said: 'While there has been some movement on the code of practice it appears other recommendations have been virtually ignored.

The new Trade & Industry Committee chairman is Conser-vative Peter Luff, MP for Mid Worcester.

But MPs retaining their membership include Lindsay Hoyle, Labour MP for Chorley, along with Roger Berry, Labour MP for Kingswood and Sir Robert Smith, Liberal Democrat member for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine.

The Select Committee office is still receiving representations from interested parties to the pubco inquiry, which are being filed at Westminster.