CAMRA encouraged by pub friendly Government

CAMRA met with community pubs minister Bob Neill on Wednesday to discuss the beer tie, planning law, beer tax and supermarket alcohol pricing.

CAMRA said it was pleased to hear of Neill’s continued work towards ensuring a “pub friendly Government”, and his commitment to listening to the plight of community pubs across Britain.

It pressed for Neill to pledge to adopt the recommendations of the select committee and introduce a statutory code of practice to govern the pubco-tenant relationship.

CAMRA also took the opportunity to welcome the draft National Planning Policy Framework, which recognises pubs as important community facilities which must be safeguarded.

“Although we wait on the Government to take concrete action following the select committee report findings, and on the consumer front there remain concerns that demolition and change of use loopholes still allow pubs to be permanently lost against the wishes of local communities, we are encouraged that the Government remains committed to its ‘pub friendly’ tag,” said chief executive Mike Benner.

“CAMRA is pleased to be continuing its positive relationship with the Community Pubs Minister, but there is still much work to be done, particularly in the face of issues such as the ongoing beer duty escalator, and the failure to effectively clamp down on supermarkets retailing alcohol irresponsibly.”