Ministers pledge help for pubs

Ministers outlined ways Government can help struggling licensees during the high-profile pub crisis summit meeting at Parliament yesterday.

Reform of planning and licensing and help with business rates were among the ideas raised. There were assurances that upcoming regulation would not burden responsible licensees.

Local government minister John Healey said there "may well be more we can do to promote" small business rate relief "and we will be talking to you about that".

He said there were plans for rate relief for businesses that are "centres of the community in some fashion", which could "conceivably include pubs".

He said "in principle we are interested" in giving councils greater powers to protect services and premises that are important to local people.

Licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe said planned action includes simplifying the process of securing minor variations to licences, and helping pubs stay open when the licence holder dies.

"We are listening to what people are saying and will come forward with proposals."

On the thorny issue of alcohol tax, Treasury minister Angela Eagle said she was in "Budget purdah" so couldn't go into details.

But she said: "I hear what you say about the [duty] escalator and lets keep up the conversation."

She rejected calls for lower alcohol tax for drinks sold at pub compared to supermarkets, saying it would be illegal under EU law.

"It's not legal to have different tax rates for some products based on where it is sold.

"EU kinks do constrain us."

Mandatory code​

Home Office minister Alan Campbell, meanwhile, stressed that the controversial mandatory alcohol retailing code would not harm responsible pubs.

The code would see a series of mandatory conditions placed on all alcohol retailers, including curbs on drinks deals such as all-inclusives, operating Challenge 21 and offering smaller drinks measures. Councils could also attach more stringent conditions to multiple venues in alcohol hotspots.

Campbell said up to nine conditions would be included in the mandatory code for all retailers.

"We recognise the difficulties in the industry, not just in this time but in other times. Action has to be balanced and proportionate."

He flagged up his dislike of irresponsible promotions, mentioning all-inclusive drinks deals in particular, adding: "The majority of businesses that sell responsibly should not be unduly affected - but those that don't will be called to account.

Health minister Dawn Primarolo said: "We absolutely recognise that it's difficult for many pubs".

But she highlighted the cost of alcohol-related harm per year of £2.7bn and stressed that action would be taken against irresponsible practices if voluntary measures don't work.

Earlier seven trade leaders pleaded for Government to help pubs by reversing the duty escalator, reducing the regulatory burden and helping with areas such as planning and business rates.

More than 100 people, including dozens of MPs, attended the crisis meeting. It was organised by the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group.