Pub industry statutory code: Background, key points and reaction
Publican's Morning Advertiser article listing a breakdown of the key points
Business Secretary Vince Cable's foreword to the Government's response to the consultation explains the reasoning behind the Government's intervention in the pub sector, the consultation process, the new policy and the proposed benefits it will bring tied tenants.
Opinion piece: BIS minister Jenny Willott's exclusive article for the PMA on the Government's response
Opinion piece: PMA group editor Rob Willock's comment piece
Pub trade reaction
Article rounding-up responses from leading figures, associations and campaigners
More detailed response from BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds on potential amendments to the code
Anti-pubco MP Greg Mulholland's response - promises free-of-tie amendment
Fair Pint campaigner Simon Clarke's response to BBPA comments
Official documents
The full Government response to the Pub Companies and Tenants consultation (PDF)
The BIS consultation web page includes:
- Impact assessment
- Consultation responses received from different groups
- The original consultation document
- Online survey responses
Word cloud
Using the text of the Government's consultation response - the larger the word, the greater its frequency in the document.
Timeline - the road to regulation
Dec 2004 – Trade & Industry Select Committee publishes report into Pub Companies highlighting concerns into actions of large pubcos
April 2009 – Business & Enterprise Committee publishes report on Pub Companies calling on Government to intervene
July 2009 – CAMRA launches beer tie ‘super-complaint’ to the Office of Fair Trading. It is rejected later that year.
March 2010 - Business, Innovation & Skills Committee publishes follow-up report delivering ultimatum to industry to deliver on self-regulation by June 2011.
Sept 2011 – Business, Innovation & Skills Committee report concludes that industry hasn’t moved on and there remains a “high level of acrimony”
April 2011 – Institute of Public Policy Research publishes its ‘Tied Down’ report (PDF), recommending the Government set up an independent adjudicator
Nov 2011 – Government opts for strengthening current Industry Framework Code over statutory regulation after discussions with the BBPA
Jan 2012 - MPs hold a debate in the House of Commons and unanimously pass a motion criticising the Government's lack of action on pubcos
Nov 2012 – Business Secretary Vince Cable writes to industry asking for evidence on how self-regulation is working
Jan 2013 – Following the evidence received, Cable announces intention to introduce a statutory code and adjudicator
April 2013 – Government launches formal consultation
Jan 2014 - MPs from all parties speak at Parliamentary debate to press Cable to stick to the Government's promise to introduce reforms
June 2014 – Following lengthy delays, the Government publishes its long-awaited response
Video
In the video below, filmed at the time of the consultation launch Jo Swinson, (the then) Minister for Employment Relations and Consumer Affairs, and Mike Benner, chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), discuss the Government’s proposals.
