To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the self-regulatory regime for small community pubs; and if he will make a statement.

The Government consider that the previous system of self-regulation in the pub industry was inadequate. That is why, in November 2011, it secured an industry commitment to implement a tough new self-regulatory system, including strengthening the Industry Framework Code, making it legally binding and establishing an independent conciliation and arbitration service to resolve disputes between pubcos and licensees.