Here is Vince Cable's chance to save the pub

• [Nov 13] Greg Mulholland* writes: THERE has been much talk about the demise of the great British pub. People up and down the country are now sadly used to seeing boarded up pubs, many with rather optimistic to let boards outside . . The implementation of a statutory code with genuine free of tie option would free up the sector and allow it to thrive and prosper once again. The good news is that this decision is, almost uniquely, in the hands of not one but two Lib Dem Ministers. Ed Davey is the Minister in whose portfolio this falls, with Vince Cable of course the Secretary of State in the Department responsible.

Both Ed and Vince have clearly and unequivocally stated, on the record [see below], that they would intervene, if the industry failed to genuinely reform itself, which it so clearly has. They have both committed to back the previous Government's plans, based on the Select Committee recommendations, so the Coalition Government are now committed "to intervene to regulate the market by putting the Code on a statutory basis backed by an industry enforcer" and with the voluntary code of practice not including either a non-tie option or a guest beer option, the Coalition Government must now "intervene to introduce a non-tie option and legislate for a Beer Order to allow guest beers" . . There is a bright future for the pub, there is a liberal future for the pub. It is now down to Liberal Democrats to deliver that.

* MP for Leeds North West and Chair of the Parliamentary Save the Pub Group.

• Pub Companies (Tenth Report of Session 2010-12) Volume I: Report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence (HC 1369-I):

'1 Introduction:

. . 3. WE congratulate the previous Government on its enlightened response to the 2010 Report. Rather than simply providing a commentary on the recommendations, that Government gave the following undertaking:

Government gives the industry until June 2011 to improve. If the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee concludes by then that the Code is not working as well as it should we will consult on putting the Code on a statutory basis with effective enforcement.

4. This declaration for the first time put the Committee in the driving seat. It was for the Committee to make the judgement and for Government to act on the Committee's conclusions. The change of Government at the 2010 election could have meant that this undertaking did not have to be honoured. However, when he came before us on 20 July 2010, the Secretary of State made clear to us that the coalition Government would honour its predecessor's commitment:

Mr Binley: You will know that we recommended that we should re-look at the question of code of practice in the industry if we felt the pub cos were not acting properly within that voluntary code, and the previous Government accepted that they would take action if our findings were that the pub cos were not acting properly within that code. Can I ask if you will confirm that the present Government would continue that policy?

Vince Cable: I can confirm that.

. . Past inquiries:

1. We thank the Secretary of State for his clear undertaking that, should we conclude that there is a need for statutory intervention, then his Department will act in accordance with the commitment given by the previous Government (Paragraph 5)

. . 23. Intransigence on both sides remains at the heart of the matter and is highlighted by the lack of real progress, over a wide range of issues, highlighted in this Report. The Business, Innovation and Skills Committee's 2010 Report gave the industry a final opportunity to address these issues. It is an opportunity that has been wasted. Reform has proceeded at a glacial pace and only as a result of dogged scrutiny by Parliamentary Committees. This latest attempt at reform has failed and we neither have the time nor the patience to continue along this path. We therefore conclude that the reforms do not meet the test set by our predecessor committee. (Paragraph 156)

24. The position of the previous Government-endorsed by the current Government- was that if we so recommended, it would consult on how to put the Code on a statutory footing. It is now time for the Government to act on that undertaking. In its response to our Report, the Government has to set out the timetable for that consultation and begin the process as a matter of urgency. We further recommend that the consultation includes proposals for a statutory Code Adjudicator armed with a full suite of sanctions. Considering the amount of evidence gathered by us and our predecessor Committees this should not be a lengthy process; and given the Government's undertaking to us we do not anticipate any meaningful delay. Furthermore, we caution the Government that offering a compromise of non- statutory intervention would be a departure from its undertaking to us and would not bring about the meaningful reform that is needed. (Paragraph 157)

25. We have not come to this decision lightly and we are firmly of the view that statutory regulation should only be used as a last resort. However, our hand has been forced and we see no other alternative for an industry which has for too long failed to put its own house in order. (Paragraph 158)'

From: Conclusions and recommendations [p. 52]

• Here is Lib Dem ministers' chance to save the pub [Lib Dem Voice Nov 13]

• Tuppen: BISC inquiry was a 'political pantomime' [Morning Advertiser Nov 10]: ' . . Business Secretary Vince Cable announced earlier this week that the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills will issue its response to the committee's report later this month.'