Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise of 10 March 2016, Official Report, column 425, in what way Mr Newby has been assisting with the Pubs Code.

Mr Newby has not been involved in the drafting of and consultation process for the Pubs Code.

Officials in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills met the Adjudicator after his appointment to provide him with a high level briefing on Part 4 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act and some areas of the draft Pubs Code in order to familiarise him with key aspects ahead of him taking up this important role. During the course of this briefing there was a discussion of some technical aspects of the Market Rent Only arbitration process - for example, the length of time it takes to appoint an independent expert - where the Adjudicator shared his professional insights.