MP: help our rural pubs

New report suggests assisting rural areas

Country pubs could benefit from new proposals to revive rural economies.

That's the view of All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group vice-president Nigel Evans, who is urging the Government to implement the findings of a new report from

the Commission for Rural Communities.

This includes proposals to help businesses in rural England, such as:

n A rural finance forum to combat lower capital investment, poorer access to finance and low levels of funding for schemes in rural areas.

n A rural innovation initiative to highlight opportunities for businesses in remote rural areas.

n A national rural summit and regional summits to focus Government and local authority attention on helping rural businesses.

Evans has submitted an Early Day Motion, signed by sixteen MPs, calling for Government to implement the recommendations.

The Tory MP, who represents the largely rural constituency of Ribble Valley in Lancashire, said: "There are suggestions that would definitely help rural businesses.

"One of the traditional rural industries that has been badly affected in recent years is the pub.

"I think that it's fair to say that pubs are often the hub of village life, but they have been left to struggle by a Government that concentrates on city dwelling.

"What the report recognises is the untapped potential in rural communities — £347bn-worth, in fact.

"If we want to restore the importance of the village, one of the local businesses that needs our support is the traditional British countryside pub."