Parliamentary Beer Group comes under fire

The All Party Parliamentary Beer Group has come under fire for its failure to investigate the impact of the beer tie on pub closures in its Community Pubs Report, published last year.

A Dispatches​ programme on Channel 4 last night looking into MP's expenses and impartiality, highlighted the fact that the APPBG , led by chairman John Grogan, receives £51,000 in sponsorship from major pubcos and brewers.

Dave Law, Enterprise lessee at the Eagle in Battersea, London, said the Community Pubs Report (Act now to save our locals​) into the future of the British pub was a "whitewash" for failing to investigate the impact of the tie on pub closures.

"In my opinion you can not have an impartial parliamentary committee that that receives financial contributions from all the bg pub companies," he said.

Fierce pubco critic and Lib Dem MP Greg Mulholland said: "It really didn't touch on one of the biggest issues facing pubs in this country, which is the now very skewed relationship between some of the large pub operators, particularly the pub companies and tenants, which I am afraid has become a huge problem and in itself is closing pubs and the report did not focus on that."

He added: "What the report said was all good stuff and there were some good recommendations based on excellent research but to have a report into community pubs that does not acknowledge one of the biggest problems and issues with community pubs made it a very partial report."

Mulholland said his newly formed All Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group did not receive any financial contributions from sponsors. "I think it is important that we are not seen as being allied with anyone particular group or association or pressure group," he said.

"We are independent. We are able to raise these issues and we are not afraid, frankly, who we offend because no-one is there in the background saying they will or they wont fund us for things."

The Beer Group told Dispatches that as one select committee had already looked at the tie and another was due to do so, the focus was on other aspects of the trade.

The purpose of the APPBG is "to promote the wholesomeness and enjoyment of beer and the unique role of the pub in UK society" and it receives funding from Punch Taverns, Enterprise Inns, Greene King, Marston's, Scottish & Newcastle, Diageo, Mitchells & Butlers, Carlsberg, Inbev UK and Anheuser Busch.