Support for Pubs

Thank you for contacting me regarding support for pubs.

Having lived in Stourbridge all my life, naturally I am quick to acknowledge how important pubs and similar hospitality businesses are to towns like ours. As a result, I appreciate the issues you raise and therefore understand that it is important the Government acts on the challenges this industry faces.

I support the new Government’s aims to tackle the much-needed reform to business rates, helping level the playing field for all. Equally, I welcome the Government’s plans to give communities a strong new ‘right to buy’ beloved community assets like pubs. This would provide local people a chance to own a business they genuinely care about. Combining this with the Government’s commitment to invest in clean British energy should also help pubs save on expensive energy bills, therefore offering some effective support to prevent pubs from closing and address some key issues I am aware campaigns like “CAMRA” and “Long Live The Local” are concerned about. 

In relation to draught relief, I know the Government wants to allow enough time to be able to understand the impact that the August 2023 alcohol duty reforms have had on alcohol sales.

In relation to cutting beer duty, I am not able to comment on the upcoming budget yet as I have not been made aware of the intentions on this matter.

I am happy to monitor any developments on the topic of supporting pubs, and raise the issue with colleagues where necessary, as I also will with business rates relief more generally.

As I say, I am aware of the important role pubs play for the community in a town like Stourbridge and so I will continue to support measures to help them, and other hospitality businesses thrive.