Geoffrey Cox MP talks about Saving our Rural Pubs

They are important places to meet and talk; acting as selling hubs for local producers, who use them for placing their products; meeting places for many local clubs and groups; and vitally, generating part-time and casual employment which is essential to our rural economy.

Despite this the number of pubs has consistently declined during past decades; impacting greatly on the communities they once served. It is therefore essential that more is done to stop this trend from continuing, and to support these pubs to serve their communities for generations to come.

With this in mind, the Government has launched a new £1.5million Pub Loan Fund to enable local communities to take control of pubs at risk of closure, meaning that 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 last Labour Government’s planned 10 percent 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 one percent 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.

In addition, the introduction of a national list of Assets of Community Value has seen many pubs protected from redevelopment. Communities are able to nominate any pub as an Asset of Community Value and then if it comes up for sale, the community has six months to raise the necessary funds in a bid to buy it. Over 800 pubs have been listed in this way.

But we have not stopped there, the Government has also doubled small business rate relief and increased the temporary business rate discount for pubs with rateable values below £50,000 to £1,500 for 2015-16, cut corporation tax and National Insurance for employers, given pubs greater flexibility over weight and measures, allowing beer and wine to be served in different sizes, and given publicans tied to pub companies new rights under a statutory Code of Practice.

Supporting our local pubs is a key priority for the Conservative party. Their longevity will without question have a positive impact on our rural communities across the country.

 Geoffrey Cox MP