Luff may intervene to give trade time on BEC
Peter Luff MP, chairman of the committee behind the damning report into pubcos, says he may intervene with Government to give the trade more time to respond to the report’s findings.
Luff: still concerned the pubcos have previous poor record of reform
It follows the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers’ letter to him last week, which outlined plans for a pan-industry mediation committee to deliver a plan for reform in six months, and at the same time requested he intercede with Lord Mandelson’s department.
Luff, chairman of the Business and Enterprise Committee, told the Morning Advertiser: “I do have the ability to say to Government that it does not need to rush its response to our report. I can say 'You don’t need to stick to the two-month timetable'.
“But the pubcos have form, and have not responded appropriately in the past. So to make that request, I would need to be convinced that the industry is serious and that what’s going on is not just window-dressing.”
Luff said that, he has been watching events since the report was published "with fascination, and with pleasure”.
He said: “I’m genuinely encouraged by the way events are shaping.”
To Comment: Login or Register