§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will bring forward legislation to increase the use of guest beers.
§ Mr. RedwoodThe Supply of Beer (Tied Estate) Order 1989 already provides that from 1 May 1990 tenants of brewers with interests in more than 2,000 on-licensed premises and those receiving tied loans from such brewers, must be free to sell a cask-conditioned guest beer from any supplier of their choice.
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§ Mr AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met representatives of the large brewers; and what was discussed.
§ Mr RedwoodThe Secretary of State for Trade and Industry last met representatives of the six national brewers collectively on 6 July 1989. In addition, the Department had a meeting with representatives of the Brewers Society on 10 November 1989 to hear representations on the draft Supply of Beer Orders.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will arrange to meet the Director General of Fair Trading to discuss the results of his office's monitoring of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report on brewing.
§ Mr. RedwoodI have no plans at present to meet the Director General of Fair Trading. I will do so if and when we think it necessary. However my Department keeps in close contact with the Office of Fair Trading on their monitoring of the implementation of the measures the Government took in response to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report. Monitoring by the Office of Fair Trading will extend at least until the end of 1992, when the Supply of Beer Orders have taken full effect.