Pubco Inquiry II special

The Fair Pint campaign has won its case to force another Parliamentary inquiry into pubco power.

The Business and Enterprise Committee today announced a follow-up inquiry into pubcos.

It will look at whether the recommendations of the 2004 Trade and Industry Committee report on pubcos have been followed.

The key questions it will look at are:

• Has the Licensing Act had an effect on competition within the market?

• To what extent have revisions to the framework codes of practice [from the British Beer & Pub Association] 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?

I think the pubcos will struggle to prove they have complied the recommendations of the Trade and Industry Select Committee​Mark DoddsFair Pint campaigner

The chairman of the Committee Peter Luff MP said: "In December 2004 the Trade and Industry Committee concluded that 'if the industry does not show signs of accepting and complying with an adequate voluntary code then the Government should not hesitate to impose a statutory code on it'.​

"We are aware that some progress has been made. This brief inquiry is intended to find out whether the developments have been adequate."

Fair Pint campaigner Mike Bell, whose Freedom For Pubs Association was heavily involved in the first inquiry, said: "This is the combination of four years hard slog. ​

"I suppose the hard work starts now but this time we have more witnesses to call on."

Fellow Fair Pint member Mark Dodds said: "I think the pubcos will struggle to prove they have complied the recommendations of the Trade and Industry Select Committee.​

"It is amazing for Fair Pint - in just four months we have managed to get an inquiry.

"People said it would never happen but here we are."

Committee members​

The Committee is inviting written evidence for the inquiry.

The Committee includes four MPs from the 2004 Committee: Roger Berry (Labour, Kingswood), Lindsay Hoyle (Labour, Chorley) and Julie Kirkbride (Conservative, Bromsgrove) and Michael Clapham (Labour, Barnsley West and Penistone).

Berry and Hoyle have both signed the Early Day Motion petition from Tim Farron MP calling for a fresh probe into pubcos and action to reduce their power.

The other MPs on the Committee are:

Adrian Bailey (Labour, West Bromwich West)Brian Binley (Conservative, Northampton South)Mark Oaten (Lib Dem, Winchester & the Meon Valley)Anne Moffat (Labour, East Lothian)Mike Weir (SNP, Angus)Anthony Wright (Labour, Great Yarmouth)

Pubco Inquiry reaction: Read more​

• Pubco probe report expected at end of year​

• How to submit evidence for Pubco Inquiry​

• Pubcos welcome Inquiry​

• Fair Pint relishing Pubco Inquiry​

• Tenants deserve justice, says Tory MP​

• Farron: About time pubcos brought to book​

• Muholland upbeat on pubco inquiry​