Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending Business Rate Relief for pubs after the 2018-19 tax year.

The government remains clear on its support for pubs, which are a vital part of local communities.

Pubs are benefiting from wider action on alcohol duty and business rates. Autumn Budget 2017 announced a freeze to all alcohol duties, including beer duty. Cuts to alcohol taxes since 2013 mean the average tax on a typical pint of beer is estimated to be 12p lower than it otherwise would have been. Pubs are also benefiting from recent cuts to business rates worth over £10 billion by 2023.

All taxes are kept under review. Future decisions on business rates will be taken as part of the normal Budget process.