HC Deb 15 July 1994 vol 246 cc797-8W
Mr. Hanson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he has held with representatives of regional breweries with regard to the tie system and public house management.

Mr. Neil Hamilton

Neither my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade nor I have recently had discussions with the regional brewers about the tie or public house management. However, my officials are in regular contact with individual regional brewers and Independent Family Brewers of Britain, which represents many local brewers, on a number of issues of concern to the brewing industry.

I am aware that some brewers are concerned that the EC Commission may bring forward proposals to amend or rescind regulation 1984/83, which concerns beer supply agreements. The regulation is due to expire at the end of 1997 and the EC Commission has said that it will not begin to review it until 1996 at the earliest. The Government will, of course, take into account the views of all interested parties when considering any proposals that the Commission may bring forward during that review.

Mr. Hanson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the effect of a revision of the tie system on employment prospects in regional breweries.

Mr. Neil Hamilton

Regional brewers have benefited greatly from the guest beer provision of the 1989 beer orders, which has enabled many to sell their cask-conditioned beer in tied pubs owned by the national brewers. They have also been able to acquire pubs sold by national brewers who were obliged to reduce the size of their tied estates to comply with the provisions of the beer orders.