Commentary on Sections Schedule 1: The Pubs Code Adjudicator Part 2: Information powers of the Pubs Code Adjudicator Paragraph 19 – Requirement to provide information
276.Part 2 describes the Adjudicator’s powers to require information and documents. Paragraph 19(1) allows the Adjudicator to require them for the purposes of an investigation under Section 53. This power will be exercisable against pub-owning businesses and others, but only once an investigation has commenced. Paragraph 19(2) allows the Adjudicator to require information from pub-owning businesses for the purposes of monitoring whether a pub-owning business has followed an earlier recommendation. This information could be used to help decide whether to commence an investigation. Paragraph 19(3) allows the Adjudicator to require documents and other information for the purposes of exercising any functions conferred on the Adjudicator by the Pubs Code in relation to parallel rent assessments and the market rent only option (see sections 42(5) and 44(1)(b)).
277.In each case the Adjudicator may require a person to provide documents or other information, including orally. Paragraph 19(8) protects information that could not be required to be provided in civil proceedings, such as information subject to legal privilege.