Oral Answers to Questions

Russell Brown Excerpts

Thursday 8th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Michael Fallon]

Yes, I will certainly look at that. We are now preparing how we manage and administer the programmes under the new multi-annual financial framework, which will begin in January 2014 and last until 2020. I want to make sure that we have a smaller number of programmes across the United Kingdom and that we therefore minimise the differing costs and start dates under the previous seven-year framework. We need a simpler approach to the cohesion funds, but I certainly take the hon. Gentleman’s point on the importance of the transition regions outside the category A regions.

[Mr Russell Brown (Dumfries and Galloway) (Lab)]

7. If he will establish an independent body to review the relationship between big pub companies and tied landlords.

[Lisa Nandy (Wigan) (Lab)]

11. If he will establish an independent body to review the relationship between big pub companies and tied landlords.

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[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Jo Swinson)]

The Secretary of State has written to the industry asking for evidence on how the self-regulatory approach announced last November is working. We will make our decisions after considering its response.

[Mr Russell Brown]

I thank the Minister for that answer, but a broad coalition of organisations as diverse as the Campaign for Real Ale, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee, which has a majority of coalition members, the all-party save the pub group, Unite and the GMB—the list goes on—all think that the relationship between pubcos and their licensees is unfair. Is the Minister able to name any serious organisation that thinks that self-regulation will work in this sector?

[Jo Swinson]

I understand that a wide range of organisations have expressed concerns, which is exactly why we have written to the industry to ask for its views on how this is working. We want to proceed on an evidence-based approach and once we receive the evidence we will report back to the House.