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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of permitting pubs to sell takeaway alcohol on (a) pubs' financial recovery from the covid-19 outbreak and (b) the economy.

Under the current restrictions, hospitality businesses are not permitted to sell takeaway alcohol. This is to reduce instances of social interactions that could undermine the Government’s primary objective of reducing the spread of COVID-19. The Government recognises the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the sector, which is why it has put in place a £284bn package of business support measures including grants of £3000 per month for businesses forced to close. The Government announced on 5 January an extra £4.6 billion to protect jobs and support affected businesses and includes a one off additional grant of up to £9000. Local Authorities in England will be given an additional £500 million discretionary funding to support their local business and builds on the £1.1 billion discretionary funding which Local Authorities have already received.