Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps he has taken to work with local authorities to support pubs.

The Government recognises the important contribution that pubs and the wider night-time economy make to local economies, high streets and communities. The Government has recently worked with businesses, local authorities, the police and representative bodies on a programme of licensing reform, including the introduction of the first National Licensing Policy Framework, which encourages licensing authorities to better support growth when making licensing decisions.

The Government continues to engage with businesses, representative bodies and local authorities to support thriving high streets and communities, including through the development of the forthcoming High Streets Strategy. This sits alongside the Pride in Place programme, which is helping communities protect and strengthen valued local assets such as pubs.

The Government has also launched a £10 million Hospitality Grant Scheme to support projects that strengthen local economies, support high streets and help revive the evening and night-time economy, with more than £3 million awarded to Pub is The Hub to help rural pubs diversify and continue serving as important community assets.