Pub groups lobby Vince Cable

Two trade lobby groups have written to business secretary Vince Cable this week over instigating a full market review of the sector.

Lib Dem MP Greg Mulholland, chair of the Save the Pub Group, raised concerns over the future of the Campaign For Real Ale's (CAMRA) super-complaint following the merger of the Office of Fair Trading and the Competition Commission.

The OFT had already responded to CAMRA rejecting that there were competition issues in the UK pub sector. "I have written to Vince Cable MP to seek reassurance that CAMRA's super-complaint will have a fair hearing at the Competition Commission, despite its mergence with OFT," said Mulholland.

"It is important that the new competition body retains the provision for organisations representing consumers to make super-complaints on their behalf.

"I hope that the Save the Pub group is consulted on this important merger of the OFT and the Competition Commission."

Independent review​

Meanwhile, Justice for Licensees (JFL) has lobbied Cable for a full independent market study of the pub sector.

The letter to Vince Cable cited legislation and red tape, supermarket pricing and pub companies as the three factors with the greatest impact on "the demise of the great British pub".

"Considering the pubcos' position, the position of many of our members and the serious questions raised that have not been satisfactorily answered, we feel that it is imperative that there is a full market study by a totally independent body," stated the letter.

"The trade needs to be ripped apart to get to the facts," said JFL chair Inez Ward. "The whole lot is a disgrace. In the best case scenario there would be a full market study, but who knows with politicians.

"I'd like to think there would be a study — we've got to get to the truth of the matter, but a lot of people wouldn't like it."