---

Pub Companies

I am not amending the motion, but I assure the hon. Gentleman that in the Select Committee's consideration of any panel to assess the workings of the voluntary code the Committee would make the panel well aware of this issue. The third issue is the weakness of the framework code. It is fair to say that the Government acknowledge that the existing framework code is weak, even though they are making it legally binding, but to date all the proposals for strengthening it seem to have come—surprise, surprise—from the British Beer and Pub Association. I cannot think of anything more likely to destroy confidence within the wider industry and among publicans than a code that has been supposedly strengthened on the advice of the BBPA.