A member of the Business and Enterprise Committee (BEC) inquiry into the power of pub companies in the UK has called for the tie to be “outlawed”.
Labour MP Lindsay Hoyle, considered to be one of the more outspoken members of the BEC, yesterday tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) ahead of the publication of its report, expected in the next two to three weeks.
Hoyle, who also sat on the 2004 inquiry, called on the government to: "Outlaw the pub tie and allow landlords greater flexibility in the purchasing of alcohol in addition to reviewing the duty placed on alcohol in order that this reflects alcohol volume rather than flat rate increases in duty".
There are reports of a split on the committee between MPs, including chairman Peter Luff, who believe there should be a second set of beer orders and those who believe the matter should be referred to the Office of Fair Trading.
