Bob Neill MP appointed Community Pubs Minister

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The government has appointed Bob Neill MP (a Minister in the Department of Communities and Local Government) as minister responsible for community...

The government has appointed Bob Neill MP (a Minister in the Department of Communities and Local Government) as minister responsible for community pubs.

The appointment follows pressure from consumer group CAMRA and gives Neill, Conservative MP for Bromley and Chislehurst, the same status as Labour's John Healey before the election.

However, a spokesman from Neill's department said that his remit will be focused on community and rural pubs, and on helping local communities take ownership of pubs.

Neill said: "The local pub is a great British institution and the social heartbeat of life in our towns and villages, bringing people together and strengthening community relationships.

"As Minister with responsibility for pubs, I am determined to protect the valuable role pubs play and help them to thrive.

"As part of our commitment we are giving residents the power to take over local pubs that are threatened with closure, and working with the sector to make sure expert advice is available to support them.

"I'm keen to hear more from publicans over the coming months about what more the Government can do to protect the local pub."

Mark Hastings from the BBPA commented: "We very much welcome his appointment. We already have a meeting lined up with him and look forward to discussing how Government and industry can work together to support community pubs."

"In particular we will focus on the opportunities within the Government's policy programme to lighten the tax and regulation load and the unique and positive role pubs can play within the localism and Big Society agenda."

Greg Mulholland MP, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Save The Pub Group, commented: "I was very pleased to hear of the appointment of Bob Neill as Community Pubs Minister and I have written to him to extend my congratulations.

"The appointment of a Community Pubs Minister is a vital step in protecting our local pubs, therefore preserving a British institution.

"I hope Bob can get to work early on investigating and resolving the many issues affecting Britain's ailing pub trade."