The Scottish Parliament Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee's
report on the Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill has been branded a 'slap
in the face' for Scotland’s tied pub tenants at the worst
possible time for the industry.
SNP and Tory MSPs have joined forces on the Committee to
recommend that MSPs vote down attempts by Scottish Labour’s Neil
Bibby to regulate big multinational pub-owning companies (PubCos)
despite the majority of Committee evidence supporting reform. The
Bill would create a statutory Pubs Code, an independent
Adjudicator and aims to prevent locking publicans into
restrictive, unfair tied pubs deals.
Tied pub reform is supported by the Scottish Licensed Trade
Association (SLTA), the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), FSB
Scotland, GMB Scotland, the Pubs Advisory Service, the Campaign
for Pubs, the British Pub Confederation, Scottish Co-operative
Party, the Society of Independent Brewers, Tennent Caledonian and
many publicans across Scotland.
said: “The SNP
– Tory majority on this Committee got it wrong. Their report
flies in the face of the evidence placed before them.
“Scotland’s tied publicans were getting a raw deal before the
pandemic and now they are in crisis. Now, more than ever, we need
to intervene to support publicans.
“This Bill would rebalance the relationship between tied tenants
and the big PubCos at a critical time. The Committee's failure to
comprehend, never mind endorse, reform is a slap in the face for
Scotland's tied publicans.
“The powers of the Scottish Parliament should be used to make the
economy fairer and to support small businesses and local
producers. Instead SNP and Tory MSPs have sided with big
multinationals who are extracting profit from small businesses
who need our support.
“While pub tenants in England and Wales have statutory
protection, which the Tory government are prepared to strengthen,
Tory and SNP MSPs inexplicably want to leave tenants in Scotland
with no rights at all.
“Now the Scottish Government must decide whose side they are on:
Scotland’s publicans or the big multinational pub-companies?”
SLTA spokesperson Paul Waterson said: “The SLTA
are bitterly disappointed by the Economy Committee’s report. We
don’t see how anyone can justify opposing legislation in Scotland
when there was cross-party support from the SNP, Conservatives,
Labour and others in Westminster for legislation to protect tied
licensees in England and Wales.
“Failure to support Scottish tenants at a time when the whole
industry is in crisis is unforgivable and Scottish tenants are
very much the poor relations.”
Responding to the publication of the Scottish Parliament
Committee’s report, CAMRA Scotland Director Joe
Crawford said: “CAMRA is calling on Business Minister
and the Scottish Government to do the right thing and
give their backing to the Tied Pubs Bill when it is debated later
this month. This Bill will create, in law, a powerful pubs code
to guarantee tied pub tenants are treated fairly and can earn a
decent living.
“Scottish Government support for this legislation would be very
warmly welcomed by both consumers and the licenced trade as a
positive move to help pubs, publicans and pub-goers, after weeks
and months of harsh restrictions which are devastating the
industry.
ENDS
Notes to editors
The Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee on the Tied Pubs Bill
can be accessed at: https://digitalpublications.parliament.scot/Committees/Report/EEFW/2020/11/11/Stage-1-Report-on-the-Tied-Pubs--Scotland--Bill
