Oral Answers to Questions

Paul Maynard Excerpts

Monday 17th December 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Pickles]

My hon. Friend raises an important point. If graffiti and fly-tipping are so serious, his council can go to a magistrates court and obtain a warrant so that surveillance can take place; otherwise they would have to pursue the normal process of dealing with fly-tipping and graffiti.

[Paul Maynard (Blackpool North and Cleveleys) (Con)]

11. What steps his Department is taking to support community pubs.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Brandon Lewis)]

Within the past fortnight I have been pleased to announce £150,000 of extra funding for Pub is The Hub, which helps preserve and expand traditional rural services for pubs and helps them innovate and remain sustainable. Other support measures include the new community right to bid, the national planning policy framework and the doubling of business rate relief until 2014.

[Paul Maynard]

I draw the Minister’s attention to Amber Taverns, based in my constituency, which has turned around literally dozens of inner-city urban pubs facing hard times by focusing on a competitive beer price, free sport and a good environment that attracts local people. Does not that show that the pub can and does have a future?