Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of what effect the rise in affordability of alcohol in supermarkets compared with on-trade has had on pub closure rates in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has not made such an assessment. The Government has taken measures to tackle alcohol consumption through pricing interventions including banning the sale of alcohol below the level of duty plus VAT, while minimum unit pricing in England remains under review.