§ 21. Mr. GroganTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she is taking to support rural pubs. [29557]
§ Alun MichaelPublic houses can act as important community assets in rural areas, sometimes offering a range of products and essential services to the local community. Since we published the Rural White Paper a year ago we have implemented a range of measures and provided extra funding to support rural pubs and other village services. Through the Countryside Agency we encourage mutual support between various services in rural areas—including post offices, village halls, local shops and pubs—to help improve their chances of remaining viable.