Luff gives pub trade till October to change
Business and Enterprise Committee chairman Peter Luff has urged the Government to give the industry until October to change following its damning report on pubco power.
Luff has written to the Minister for Further Education, Skills, Apprenticeships and Consumer Affairs Kevin Brennan asking for the Government's response to be delayed until October as there had been "significant developments" since the report, which recommended a full Competition Commission inquiry.
The expected delay was first revealed by the Morning Advertiser over two weeks ago (Luff may intervene to give trade time on BEC).
"It appears likely that Camra will launch a super-complaint to the OFT, and the ALMR is working with an industry group to negotiate changes in the industry," said Luff.
"An early Government Response would not be able to consider the outcome of these developments, and the Government might be constrained in what it said because of the reality or even the likelihood of a super-complaint.
"We would prefer to wait and see what progress is made on these developments rather than have an early and necessarily incomplete reply."
However Luff said he had no intention of "letting the industry off the hook" and ruled out giving the industry six months to make changes as asked for by the ALMR. "We are also aware that the industry has appeared to accept the need to change in the past, and has failed to do so."
He added: "We recognise that it may take some months for the industry to reach consensus on proposals for change or for any super-complaint to be considered, and there have been suggestions that we should request a six month delay.
"We do not think it is appropriate at this stage to set such a timetable. We are keeping developments in the industry under review, and will consider the matter again in October."
