Oral Answers to Questions

Bob Russell Excerpts

Thursday 11th September 2014 Commons Chamber

[Vince Cable]

My hon. Friend is right, and I believe that his constituency houses the Pub is The Hub voluntary organisation that plays an extremely important role in that respect. I think it receives significant funding from my colleagues in the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Plunkett Foundation, and I encourage my hon. Friend to support that organisation in its work.

[Sir Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD)]

I endorse the question that has just been put, so will the Minister look across the Government—if we can have joined-up Government—at possibly reducing the rateable value on traditional community local public houses, which face a lot of competition from binge-drinking premises and supermarkets?

[Vince Cable]

The issue of rateable valuation will arise in the revaluation, when it occurs, but my hon. Friend will be aware that pubs have benefited significantly in the autumn statement from the package on business rates, which is worth £1 billion. A third of all pubs have now benefited from the £1,000 discount given to low-value property.

--- Later in debate ---

[Greg Clark]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving me the chance to point out that those fears have been completely unjustified. Since 2010, there has been a 17% increase in students from the poorest backgrounds, including an 8% increase in the past year. More students from disadvantaged backgrounds are going to university than ever before, and the gap between the richest and the poorest has never been smaller.

[Sir Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

[Mr Speaker]

Points of order come after business questions rather than during questions.

[Sir Bob Russell]

The Secretary of State will not be here very long and I would like him to hear my point of order.

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Member for Colchester (Sir Bob Russell) may be able to persuade the Secretary of State to return for his important point of order. I am afraid that procedure must take precedence over convenience.