Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he is taking steps to increase financial support for pubs in rural areas.

The Government believes that pubs make an important contribution to our culture, fostering a sense of place and community, and the UK economy.

Our ‘Brexit Pubs Guarantee,’ confirms that the duty on a draught pint will always be lower than its equivalent in a supermarket. And the new alcohol duty system implemented in August of this year included a new Draught Relief that provides a significant duty discount on alcohol sold in containers of 20 litres or more in the on-trade.

In addition, pubs will benefit from business rates support worth £13.6bn over the next five years, including a more generous Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) relief scheme that has increased from 50% to 75% relief in 2023-24.

The Government is also funding a wide range of community assets, including pubs, through the Community Ownership Fund. To date, the Fund has allocated £36.9m to 150 projects, including 23 rural pubs.