HC Deb 12 March 1973 vol 852 c886
25. Mr. Lipton

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of the recommendation of the Monopolies Commission in 1969 and British membership of the EEC, he will now seek to end or modify the tied house system.

The Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Mr. Anthony Grant)

I would ask the hon. Member to await the outcome of the consideration by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary of the Report of the Erroll Committee.

Mr. Lipton

We have been waiting for that for a long time. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the number of free houses is getting less, the number of tied houses is getting more, and the number of licensees being replaced by managers is increasing? The Government are giving the impression that they want to murder the traditional English pub.

Mr. Grant

All these matters will be taken into consideration by my right hon. Friend. However, as the Erroll Committee reported only in December and covered a very wide range of matters, I do not think that the delay has been unreasonable.