There was no attempt by pubcos or brewers to interfere in the Community Pubs Report — according to All Party Parliamentary Beer Group chairman John Grogan.
Grogan, Labour MP for Selby, issued a firm rebuttal to suggestions in Channel 4's Dispatches last night that the Beer Group's report into the future of pubs (Act now to save our locals) had been influenced by its sponsors, which include pubcos.
Lib Dem MP and fierce pubco critic Greg Mulholland questioned the impartiality of the report because it did not mention the tie.
"When the Beer Group launched the Community Pub Inquiry in 2006, there had recently been a Select Committee inquiry into the tie and so the Panel of Inquiry, which incidentally I did not sit on, rather than going over the same ground decided to concentrate on the relationship between Government policy and the pub," said Grogan.
"It conducted the vast bulk of its work before Fair Pint was even set up. After nine evidence sessions the Committee produced a unanimous report.
"There was no attempt to influence the terms of reference of the Inquiry by any brewer or pub company."
Independent
Grogan also stressed that the Beer Group and indeed, himself, remained completely independent. He cited the examples of his preference for a total smoking ban and minimum pricing agreements to be put in place against the wishes of some of the Group's sponsors.
"As chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group I speak my own mind on issues regarding the future of the pub and the beer industry," he said. "Indeed I would not be worthy of being an MP if I did not do so.
"I listen to the cases quite properly put by a whole range of groups including not only brewers and pub companies but also the Fair Pint campaign who it must be remembered have financial interests and backers of their own.
"I then make my own judgements and sometimes on issues like minimum alcohol pricing and the smoking ban, I have taken very different positions from the mainstream industry view.
"The truth is that there are as many views amongst members of Parliament as there are amongst different sections of the industry.
He added: "The value of the Beer Group is that it provides a forum where the industry, consumer groups such as Camra and Members of Parliament can exchange views."