Advice and guidance by the Adjudicator
Section 60: Advice
335.This section allows the Adjudicator to give tenants and pub-owning businesses, whether generally or individually, advice about any aspect of the Pubs Code. It also allows the Adjudicator to give advice to organisations that represent the interests of tied pub tenants and pub-owning businesses. This power is likely to be exercised with a view to encouraging compliance with the Pubs Code.
Section 61: Guidance
336.Subsection (1) provides that the Adjudicator must publish guidance on the criteria for deciding whether to carry out investigations, the practices and procedures for investigations, the criteria for using enforcement powers, and the criteria for deciding the amount of financial penalties. This ensures that guidance is available before the Adjudicator exercises its investigatory powers.
337.The Adjudicator may also publish additional guidance about the practices and procedures the Adjudicator intends to follow when carrying out other functions and about any matter relating to the Pubs Code. For example, this would enable the Adjudicator to give general guidance about the application of a particular provision of the Pubs Code (subsections (2) and (3)).
338.Subsection (4) states that the Adjudicator must consult as appropriate before issuing any guidance. The Adjudicator must provide initial guidance covering the topics set out in subsection (1) within 6 months of section 41 coming into force.