Asked by: Victoria Atkins (Conservative - Louth and Horncastle)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many pubs have closed since 5 July 2024; and what steps his Department is taking to support (a) pubs and (b) other hospitality businesses.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
There are no official statistics on the number of pub closures, however there were 37,875 UK public houses and bars in March 2024 and this fell to 37,805 in March 2025
The Government recognises the vital role of pubs and hospitality in our communities and economy, that’s why we are providing targeted support for the sector.
In April, we launched a Taskforce to consider ways to create a more balanced premises licensing system that not only safeguards communities but also supports responsible businesses. On 7 October the Government issued a Call for Evidence on Reforming the licensing system - GOV.UK (deadline: midday, 6 November 2025). These reforms are part of the Small Business Strategy, which also tackles late payments, improves access to finance, and cuts red tape. We want planning and licensing systems to work fairly for businesses and residents.
We’re also creating a fairer business rates system, including permanently lower rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties under £500,000 rateable value and continue to work closely with the sector to address challenges, including through the Hospitality Sector Council.
Asked by: Victoria Atkins (Conservative - Louth and Horncastle)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether Emma Reynolds MP met with (a) farming, (b) estate planning, (c) tax advisory and (d) other external organisations to discuss inheritance tax changes when Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Treasury Ministers take part in internal and external meetings routinely on a range of subjects relating to the department’s responsibilities and their specific portfolios.
As the Minister responsible for the UK tax system, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury’s portfolio of responsibilities includes inheritance tax. My rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs has not been the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury. She was Parliamentary Secretary at HM Treasury and the Department of Work and Pensions from 9 July 2024 to 14 January 2025. She was Economic Secretary to the Treasury from 14 January 2025 to 5 September 2025.
Asked by: Victoria Atkins (Conservative - Louth and Horncastle)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether Emma Reynolds has (a) chaired and (b) deputised at any meetings on inheritance tax policy since 1 July 2024.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Treasury Ministers take part in internal and external meetings routinely on a range of subjects relating to the department’s responsibilities and their specific portfolios.
As the Minister responsible for the UK tax system, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury’s portfolio of responsibilities includes inheritance tax. My rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs has not been the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury. She was Parliamentary Secretary at HM Treasury and the Department of Work and Pensions from 9 July 2024 to 14 January 2025. She was Economic Secretary to the Treasury from 14 January 2025 to 5 September 2025.
Asked by: Victoria Atkins (Conservative - Louth and Horncastle)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether Emma Reynolds MP has attended any Treasury meetings in her role as Economic Secretary to the Treasury on inheritance tax reforms on Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief since 1 July 2024.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Treasury Ministers take part in internal and external meetings routinely on a range of subjects relating to the department’s responsibilities and their specific portfolios.
As the Minister responsible for the UK tax system, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury’s portfolio of responsibilities includes inheritance tax. My rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs has not been the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury. She was Parliamentary Secretary at HM Treasury and the Department of Work and Pensions from 9 July 2024 to 14 January 2025. She was Economic Secretary to the Treasury from 14 January 2025 to 5 September 2025.
Asked by: Victoria Atkins (Conservative - Louth and Horncastle)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether Emma Reynolds MP has attended any meetings in her role as Economic Secretary to the Treasury on proposed changes to inheritance tax since 1 July 2024.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Treasury Ministers take part in internal and external meetings routinely on a range of subjects relating to the department’s responsibilities and their specific portfolios.
As the Minister responsible for the UK tax system, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury’s portfolio of responsibilities includes inheritance tax. My rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs has not been the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury. She was Parliamentary Secretary at HM Treasury and the Department of Work and Pensions from 9 July 2024 to 14 January 2025. She was Economic Secretary to the Treasury from 14 January 2025 to 5 September 2025.
Asked by: Victoria Atkins (Conservative - Louth and Horncastle)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 March 2025 to Question 35691 on Dover Port Health Authority: Finance, how much funding his Department plans to provide to Dover Port Health Authority in the 2025-26 financial year.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
Defra remains committed to agreeing an appropriate funding model with Dover PHA to help tackle illegal imports. Officials are working with Dover Port Health Authority to agree funding for 2025/26.
Asked by: Victoria Atkins (Conservative - Louth and Horncastle)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has confirmed funding for the Dover Port Health Authority for the 2025-26 financial year.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
Defra remains committed to agreeing a funding model with Dover Port Health Authority to help tackle illegal imports. The Government’s fiscal position is challenging, and we need to make some difficult decisions. Despite this, we have been able to secure funding for 2025/6 to support the detection of illegal imports at the short straits, alongside Border Force and we continue to work with Dover Port Health Authority on this.
Asked by: Victoria Atkins (Conservative - Louth and Horncastle)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the details of a potential UK-US trade deal.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues, and Cabinet discussions are considered confidential.
Asked by: Victoria Atkins (Conservative - Louth and Horncastle)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Dover Port Health Authority on funding for the 2025-26 financial year.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
Defra remains committed to agreeing an appropriate funding model with Dover PHA to help tackle illegal imports. Officials are working with Dover Port Health Authority to agree funding for 2025/26.
Asked by: Victoria Atkins (Conservative - Louth and Horncastle)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many applications for the capital grant scheme were received by his Department in each month since July 2024.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) received a total of 5,470 applications for the capital grant scheme between July and November 2024 with 1,884 Agreements offered during this period with an average value of £14,011.
Across the summer, a much larger volume of applications, than expected, were received meaning more time was required to process.
In light of these higher volumes, offers on new applications were not made to allow monitoring of the impact on the intended scheme outcomes and to investigate the implications of the increased value of some applications
The monthly breakdown is as follows:
| July | August | September | October | November | Total |
Applications Received | 963 | 937 | 978 | 1,403 | 1,189 | 5,470 |
Agreements Offered* | 904 | 961 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 1,882 |
Average Value of Claims Paid** | £12,952 | £13,323 | £14,006 | £14,420 | £15,094 | £14,011 |
* The application may have been received prior to July 2024.
** This relates to all claims paid within July to November regardless of when the agreement started. Agreement holders have up to 3 years from start date to submit their claim.