§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many and which breweries accept the Brewers Society code of practice as the appropriate machinery for the regulation of rents and tenancies;
(2) what assurances were given to the National Union of Licensed Victuallers about the operation of the code of practice in the licensed trade when they met the Parliamentary Secretary recently;
(3) what representations he has made to the Brewers Society about the code of practice that applies to tenancies in the licensed trade; and if they have undertaken to make changes in the code;
(4) what representations he has received about the operation of the code of practice that applies to tenancies in the licensed trade.
§ Mrs. FennerI recently discussed the voluntary code of practice on tenant security with the National Union of Licensed Victuallers. The union confirmed that the code when applied properly provides a better level of protection to publicans than that given to other commercial tenants under current legislation. The union accepted that the large majority of brewers, representing 90–95 per cent. of tied houses, had accepted the code. However, it felt that the code was not observed adequately, particularly over rent reviews, and that this had led to some difficulties for tenants. It agreed that the best solution lay in improving the operation of the current voluntary arrangements rather than in new legislation.
I have written to the chairman of the Brewers' Society to draw his attention to the NULV's comments and understand that the society will shortly be meeting the NULV.