Healey: I took a 'balanced' look at the industry

Pubs minister John Healey has said he has taken a "balanced and intelligent look" at the trade and warned "the ball is in the industry's court now".

But speaking to The Publican ​following the release of his plan to stop closures, Healey admitted none of the steps would become a reality before the general election.

"My job was to take a hard look at why community pubs are closing and set out some principles that underpin an action plan," he said.

"I don't think there is one single step we can take that will solve the issues. It's easy to look for one silver bullet, but I've tried to take a balanced and intelligent look."

Healey's proposals included support for the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee report which gives the pubcos until June 2011 to get their house in order.

However his plans went further and urged pubcos to offer tenants the chance of going free-of-tie and a guest beer option.

But he said: "This does not mean the end of the tie." Instead, he called for greater flexibility that will "benefit the consumer".

He added: "The principles that emerged were to see greater fairness in the industry and more flexibility to support it."

The minister pointed to Marston's, as an example of a company that is exploring free-of-tie options with its tenants. "And the reports I'm getting are that it has worked well," said Healey.

But he warned: "We are looking at the industry to live up to its code."

On the measures to ban restrictive covenants, Healey said: "There are places where pubs are viable businesses and can be closed without giving the local community or local authority the option to step in and say we believe this pub is important to our community and we want to keep it going."

But the minister refused to be drawn about tackling supermarket pricing, merely saying he was aware there was an issue. "I wanted to concentrate on steps that were practical and to come up with a tough action plan," he said.