HC Deb 05 May 1988 vol 132 cc1004-5
6. Mr. Allen

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the east midlands on the tenancy system in public houses.

Mr. Donald Thompson

A number of hon. Members have written to me concerning the situation of tenants of Home Brewery plc. I have also met delegations of hon. Members and representatives of the National Licensed Victuallers Association to hear their views on the application of the Brewers Society code of practice on tenants' security in this and other cases.

Mr. Allen

The Minister will be aware, because he has seen other hon. Members and me, that the Scottish and Newcastle brewery has taken over the Home brewery in Nottingham, with the consequence that up to 300 tenants have been issued with either notice to quit or up to fivefold rent increases. Will the Minister make representations so that the tenants and Scottish and Newcastle will get around the table, and the latter will behave in a decent way towards those tenants?

We are also worried about the future of the Daybrook brewery in Nottingham, and the assurances that Scottish and Newcastle has given us may not be worth the paper they are written on. Matthew Brown's brewery in Workington—[Interruption] I know that Conservative Members do not like to hear that—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I ask the hon. Gentleman to put his question briefly. This is not an Adjournment debate.

Mr. Thompson

If I did not before—and I did—I now recognise the passion that the hon. Gentleman brings to this issue. I met him, my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood (Mr. Stewart) and other hon. Members, and the National Licensed Victuallers Association. After that meeting I wrote to the Brewers Society outlining the events of the meeting and asking it to look at the matter carefully.

Mr. Colvin

My hon. Friend will be aware that there are considerable reservations in the licensed trade about the way in which the Brewers Society's code of guidance on tenants' security is operating in practice. As he will know, there are two alternatives. One is to give the code of practice statutory backing; the other is to make publicans subject to the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. Which of those alternatives does he favour, if he feels that a change is required?

Mr. Thompson

I suggest that the tenants, through their associations, press the breweries to stick more closely to the code of practice, and that my hon. Friend, if he thinks it appropriate, introduces a measure to codify that code of practice in legislation. It is not for me to do that at this time or to encourage the landlords and tenants to move to the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

What are we going to do about this company, which rides roughshod over the livelihoods of people throughout the United Kingdom wherever it is allowed to operate? May we have an official inquiry of some sort into Scottish and Newcastle's divestment of its shares in MacKinleys in Scotland and into the jobs lost in Scotland? Such an inquiry will reveal once again the irregular and unreasonable way in which the company operates.

Mr. Thompson

The pressure of market forces does not always work in the direction of tenants, landlords or brewers. I do not think that the sort of inquiry envisaged by the hon. Gentleman would be sensible, or clear, if it were set up in the way that he suggests.

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