Luff to re-convene pub inquiry committee

The Business and Enterprise Committee (BEC) will re-convene before Christmas to consider the proposals put forward to provide a better deal for pub tenants, since it published its report in May.

The BEC recommended a full-scale review of the tie by the Competition Commission and "urgent action by the Government" in a hard-hitting report on the pubco-tenant relationship (Big pubcos hammered by MPs​).

Speaking exclusively to the Morning Advertiser​, following the news that the Office of Fair Trading would take no further action, BEC chairman Peter Luff said he would now call another session.

The BEC will consider the deal put forward by the British Beer and Pub Association (Pubcos set out 'fundamental reform' plans​) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) report into reform of the rent system (RICS to make pub rent changes​).

"I would now like the Government to respond so that we can tie up all the loose ends," he said. "Then I want to get all the major players back in for another session before Christmas.

"By that I mean RICS, BBPA, the OFT and the new Independent Pub Confederation. The committee needs to take on board the major developments over the last week and consider if further action is required."

Luff added: "There is no doubt that the situation will be far better for tenants in the future. I am confident the report has done a lot of good, the question is how much?"

The BEC originally recommended a direct referal to the Competition Commission rather than an OFT inquiry because it had failed to act in the past. But Luff said he could not comment directly on the OFT's decision to take no action once again. "The Committee needs to consider its full report and all the developments," he said.

The Tory MP said the formation of the IPC group (IPC: we represent 25,000 pub licensees​) would make the job of MPs a "great deal easier".