Pubco Inquiry: 'Give us the truth'

The chairman of the new Parliamentary inquiry into pubcos says he has no agenda "other than the search for the truth".

Peter Luff MP spoke exclusively to the MA following the announcement that pubcos' treatment of tenants will be probed for the second time in four years.

The Business & Enterprise Committee (Bec) will look at how pubcos have responded to the recommendations of the 2004 Trade & Industry Select Committee (Tisc) inquiry into pubcos.

Pub company chiefs are expected to be grilled on steps taken in recent years.

This is likely to include the AWP machine tie, rent reviews, the arbitration process and what steps in general they have taken to be more open with tenants.

Asked if the new inquiry will be as far-reaching as Tisc, Bec chairman Luff said: "I doubt it will be. It depends on the evidence we receive. I see it as an update rather than a major new inquiry."

The Tory MP for Mid Worcestershire is no stranger to the trade. He was a special advisor to Trade & Industry Secretary Lord Young during the Beer Orders in 1988, which broke up the power of the major pub-owning brewers and paved the way for the rise of pubcos.

Luff added: "We are open-minded. We are aware of the views expressed and we made a commitment to look at the issue again and that's what we'll do.

"We don't come with any agenda other than the search for the truth. I want pubs to succeed and flourish; that's my only prejudice. When a lot of urban and rural communities are losing post offices we don't want to lose pubs too."

Enterprise chief operating officer Simon Townsend said the inquiry is "an opportunity to put the facts in front of the committee and other observers, as opposed to a lot of inaccurate and sensationalist statements made so far".