Over 98% of British Beer and Pub Association members with tenanted and leased pubs have now had their Codes of Practice accredited or are in the final stage of the process.
The BBPA has told the Business, Skills and Innovation Committee that its members have made good progress in meeting the challenges laid down by the Committee.
It said that companies representing over 23,000 pubs had had their code of practice accredited. Small company members, representing 324 pubs, were given until the end of the year to comply by the BBPA.
Flexible agreements
It said the Pub Independent Rent Review Scheme had "motivated companies and their tenants/lessees to negotiate in a more constructive manner".
It said: "Since only five of these cases have proceeded through the full process, PIRRS can base its success on its ability to resolve disputes beforehand, negating the need for any costs to be incurred."
The BBPA also highlighted new flexible agreements that had been introduced by its members including options such as free of tie on wines and spirits and free of tie on SIBA beers.
As previously announced, the BBPA is to work with the Indepndent Pubs Confederation to survey licensees on the new code of practice and is to develop its own benchmarking scheme to help prepare shadow P&L accounts.
On Brulines, the BBPA said that it had now issued "clear direction to its members that charges for any confirmed breach of the tie should not be taken by direct debit without prior agreement from the tenant/lessee".
It added that member companies had reviewed their position on the AWP machine tie and policies were explained in the codes of practice.
Difficult trading
"The pub sector as a whole has experienced difficult trading conditions in recent years and the industry has had to adapt to changing circumstances and increasing regulatory and cost burdens," it said.
"These have placed a strain on all pub businesses, which in turn has stretched the economic model that has served the industry well, but the industry is now undergoing change to meet those challenges.
"The economic downturn has affected pubs no less than any other sector, but whereas many other businesses, particularly smaller retail outlets, enjoy no support from their landlords, those in the pub trade that pay rent to pub owning companies have received considerable assistance, both financially and in other ways, to assist them preserve and grow their businesses."