Mulholland meets with minister to discuss beer tie

Pub campaigning MP Greg Mulholland is to meet with the employment relations minister Edward Davey today (November 30) to discuss industry progress in reforming the beer tie.

Mulholland, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group, said he was "delighted" to have the opportunity to explain the issue of the beer tie from the licensees' point of view to the department of business innovation and skills.

"There have been some recent movements towards reform within the industry, but in order to ensure that momentum is maintained, it is vital the political and governmental pressure remains for reform of the beer tie to ensure a fair deal is delivered," said Mulholland.

The meeting takes place after the Lib Dem MP wrote to Vince Cable, the secretary of state for business, innovation and skills, expressing concern over the announcement last month that the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and the Competition Commission are to merge.

News of the merger sparked concern that the CAMRA's complaint to the Competition Commission would go unaddressed. The complaint came last month in response to the OFT's statement that there are no competition problems in the pub market with regards to the beer tie.

"It is important that the new competition body retains the provision for organisations representing consumers to make super-complaints on their behalf," said Mulholland.