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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to support pubs and breweries during the cost-of-living crisis; and what steps his Department is taking to provide (a) guidance and (b) support to community groups seeking to have pubs listed as Assets of Community Value.

The Government recognise that hospitality businesses are facing cost of living pressures.

The Energy Bill Relief Scheme ensures that businesses are protected from excessively high energy bills over the winter period. My Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer recently announced a range of support measures regarding business rates worth £13.6 billion over the next 5 years.

Councils are responsible for the oversight, administration and publication of their local Assets of Community Value scheme. The Government does not hold a central list of this information and does not require Local Authorities in England to submit updates on the number of Assets of Community Value which they have listed or rejected.