Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Michael Fabricant Excerpts
Tuesday 10th November 2015

(9 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Anna Soubry Portrait Anna Soubry
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No, I am afraid that I do not agree with the hon. Lady’s assessment of the consultation at all. The clue is in the name: this is a consultation. We are therefore, quite rightly, publishing our proposals, and I look forward to representations from everybody, including the hon. Lady.

Michael Fabricant Portrait Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)
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I join the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Louise Haigh) and say that a number of pubs have closed in my constituency and those of my colleagues simply because property prices and rents are too high? I recognise that we need to keep the pubcos in business too, or we will not help anyone. Does my hon. Friend agree that exceptional circumstances would include any situation in which a pub would have to close because the rent was too high?

Anna Soubry Portrait Anna Soubry
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This is all very useful and helpful, and I thank my hon. Friend for his contribution. I look forward to him putting his views into the consultation; a mix of views is critical to what I emphasise again is a consultation.