Trade drags heels' over pubco code of practice

by Tony Halstead

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has criticised the trade's "slow" response to recommendations made by the Trade & Industry Select Committee following its inquiry into pubco power.

The FSB, which represents more than 3,000 licensees, claims there is little evidence the industry is tackling major issues raised in the report, which followed last summer's three month investigation.

The Federation's parliamentary spokesman, David Bishop, has accused trade bodies of dragging their feet on the major issues highlighted by the committee.

"It's been more than three months since the committee published its report but so far there appear to be few signs that the trade is taking up the recommendations.

"It is very disappointing that there seems to be so little commitment to take these recommendations forward," he said.

Bishop said the committee had recommended the adoption of a new code of practice governing pubco-tenant relations as a matter of urgency and had also called for the abolition of the tie on AWP machines in pubs.

Select committee MPs urged that consultation on the new code should involve discussions with the widest range of interested parties.

But the FSB says it is disappointed that the trade's lead body, the British Beer & Pub Association, had not made contact to discuss what should be included in the revised code.

"The pubcos are being urged to be open and transparent about their leases and rents and the way they do business," said Bishop.

"During the inquiry the BBPA was identified as the lead body that could move all this forward, but there appears to have been little action. We will be writing to the association asking them what progress they have made in responding to the report," he added.

The committee first published its report last December and the government's official response appeared on 14 March.

BBPA spokesperson Christine Milburn denied the association had been slow to respond saying work on a revised code of practice was already in progress.

"There is a working group already investigating this to see what action should be taken, although we did need to wait for clarification from the Govern-ment in its response to the report before we could really get down to looking at changes," said Milburn.

"Looking at ways to change and update the code is an ongoing process," she added.