Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if his Department will review trends in the level of pub closures in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) Midlothian.

The Government does not hold information the information requested.

The Government recognises the important role pubs play in local communities. My Rt Hon Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced at Autumn Budget 2018 that the Government was freezing beer duties for the second consecutive year as beer makes up close to 50% of pub sales. Many pubs are also benefitting from the business rates retail discount, announced at Budget 2018, which cuts bills by one third for retail properties with a rateable value below £51,000 from April 2019, as well as wider reforms and reductions to business rates.