I have recieved a large number of emails regarding pubs and EDM 107. Unfortunately, EDMs have fallen into disrepute in recent years, as they cost around £400,000 a year to administer and have little legislative effect. As such, I choose not to sign them.
Nevertheless, let me assure you that I am a great supporter of real ale and real pubs, and have been all my life. Indeed, I would like to think there a number of pubs in Broxtowe that I have helped, including the Foresters in Newthorpe (which we saved from closure), my recent campaign to save the New White Bull in Giltbrook and my support for great pubs like the Crown Inn in Beeston and the Horse and Jockey in Stapleford. I am also a keen supporter of excellent local breweries like Blue Monkey in Giltbrook.
Pubs are, with few exceptions, great community assets and local authorities should be involved in making sure they are not simply sold off and turned into supermarkets.
In Government, we have demonstrated our continued commitment to community pubs through a number of measures. For instance, the Government has launched a new £1.5 million Pub Loan Fund to enable local communities to take control of pubs at risk of closure. Local people will be able to apply for small loans to help restore their pub, to help pay for feasibility work or lawyers’ fees.
£350,000 has also been provided to ‘Pub is The Hub’ and the Plunkett Foundation to help local residents buy and run pubs and to enable pubs to provide community services.
The introduction of a national list of Assets of Community of Value has also seen many pubs protected from redevelopment, including our own New White Bull in Giltbrook. Communities are able to nominate any pub as an Asset of Community Value and if it then comes up for sale, the community then has 6 months to raise the necessary funds to bid to buy it. Over 800 pubs have been listed in this way.
The last Labour Government’s planned 10 per cent tax rise on cider has also been scrapped and the beer duty escalator has been removed altogether. The duty on beer has been cut by 1 per cent and I welcome the fact that beer is now 8p cheaper. The introduction of the Live Music Act, also makes it easier for pubs to play live music.
I hope this reassures you of my own, and indeed the Government's support for publicans across the UK.