With one week left before submissions close for the PCA’s inquiry into Stonegate, the regulator has issued an urgent call for more evidence. Clear positionIn April, the PCA warned the six regulated pub companies that NDAs and confidentiality clauses must not deter tenants from sharing information with the regulator, following concerns that some agreements may have discouraged them from speaking out. Additionally, the PCA asserted confidentiality agreements should clearly state that tenants can share information with the regulator and that it expects pub companies to make this clear in such agreements. The PCA launched its formal investigation into Stonegate last month, covering the five years from 15 July 2021 to 14 July 2026. The Stonegate inquiry marks only the second such investigation in the PCA’s history, with the first having been launched in 2019 against Star Pubs.