MPs call for "long overdue" inquiry into pubco power
A review into the dominant position of pubcos is being considered for investigation by the Business and Enterprise Committee, it was confirmed today at the launch of the Fair Pint campaign at the Houses of Parliament.
Speaking at the launch, Tory MP Sir Nicholas Winterton said a select committee review into the power of pubcos is "long overdue".
"The beer orders were a great error of judgement and we opposed them at the time," he said.
The Fair Pint group is calling for an end to what campaign supporter and MP Tim Farron labelled unfair pubco "monopolies" and "abuse of power".
A steering group of anti-pubco campaigners including pubco licensees Mark Dodds and Nicola Francey, accountant Brian Jacobs and Freedom for Pubs Association founder Mike Bell met today with MPs to officially launch their campaign.
The group wants an end to tied leases in all pubs except those owned by brewers with fewer than 500 sites, and to see guidance outlined in the 2004 Trade & Industry Select Committee report into pubco power made compulsory.
They also want a review by the Business and Enterprise Committee into the matter, although it was confirmed today that this would be unlikely to happen until September.
"The beer orders did not remove the opportunity for companies to have a monopoly position and abuse it," said Farron. "The consequence is the closure of pubs that are the glue that holds communities together.
"We want to try and end the near monopoly that many pubcos have and break the tie, the means by which they abuse their power."
Dodds, co-licensee of the Sun and Doves, Camberwell, London said: "The cost of rent and beer makes the business unsustainable.
"The only way we keep going is by not paying ourselves a living wage. We want to get our experience across because we are doers and we feel that we are being bullied."
