§ Mr. RuffleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received from trade bodies requesting business rate relief to be granted to licensed public houses in rural areas. [114342]
§ Ms Beverley HughesWe have recently received a substantial number of representations from the licensed trade asking that the 50 per cent. mandatory rate relief for village general stores and post offices be extended to village public houses. Although they were mainly from the licensees of public houses, we have received representations from the North West Brewers and Licensed Retailers Association and the Brighton and South Downs Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale.
212WVillage public houses and other businesses in qualifying rural settlements are already eligible for rate relief of up to 100 per cent., at the discretion of the local authority.