PUB TENANTS

Early day motion 614, tabled 30 April 2001 by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 22 members.

That this House notes the sale of 1,700 tenanted Whitbread pubs to Morgan Grenfell Private Equity; notes that this will mean an uncertain future for the existing pub tenants; further notes the personal and financial investment that Whitbread pub tenants have made over many years to build up their businesses; deeply regrets the decision by both Whitbread and Morgan Grenfell to refuse individual tenants the right to buy the freehold of their pubs; supports the campaign by Gary McClure and other pub tenants for the right to buy the freehold of their own pubs; and calls upon the Government to consider granting pub tenants and lessees a statutory right to buy, particularly when the pub freehold ownership changes.

Signatures by party: Labour 18, Liberal Democrat 3, Labour/Co-operative 1.