A fresh parliamentary inquiry has today been launched to investigate the role of pubcos.
The Business and Enterprise Committee will carry out the investigation to find out whether recommendations from the 2004 Trade and Industry Select inquiry have been carried out.
Peter Luff MP, chairman of the committee, said: "We are aware that some progress has been made.
"This brief inquiry is intended to find out whether the developments have been adequate."
The key question the inquiry will address will be:
- Has the Licensing Act 2003 had an effect on competition within the market?
- To what extent have revisions to the framework codes of practice met the committee's concerns?
- To what extent are the codes applied by the pubcos?
- Is there a need for further regulation of the industry?
The news will be greeted with delight by the campaign group Fair Pint? which is aiming to end the beer tie.
After the last investigation the British Beer & Pub Association responded by revising its "Codes of Practice Framework on the Granting and Operation of Tied Tenancies and Leases" which forms the basis for individual companies' own codes of practice.
- Written evidence is being invited for the latest inquiry and this should be sent by September 29 2008,as an MS Word document, of no more than six pages, by email to becom@parliament.uk with a single hard copy sent to the Clerk of the Committee at: Business & Enterprise Committee, Select Committee Announcement, Committee Office, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.
If you wish your evidence to remain confidential, contact the committee staff. Before submitting evidence people are asked to read this guide available at: http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/witness.cfm