Licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe was called upon to help smaller pubs by cutting alcohol taxes and making satellite fees more affordable, in a parliamentary debate yesterday.
Sutcliffe said: "We need to speak to representatives of Sky and Setanta, and similar providers, to see what they can do for the smaller pub — for pubs that are not part of a big chain that can afford the fee."
Nigel Evans, MP for Ribble Valley, and vice-chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, had asked whether the "prohibitive" costs of satellite licence fees were a disadvantage for small pubs.
Tory MP Lawrence Robertson introduced the debate on pubs, and called on the Government to freeze alcohol taxes in the next Budget, adding, "I would like it (alcohol tax) to be reduced, especially on beer". He also called for an "end to the drip-drip regulation that affects all businesses, but small ones disproportionately", as well as mandatory rate relief and more diversification in pubs.
The minister said he would undertake to deal with "as many as possible" of the points raised.
Chairman of the APPBG John Grogan, MP for Selby, called for the extension of rate relief "not just to village pubs, but to those in market towns and suburbs".
Robertson introduced the topic, and spoke about how "the uniquely British institution" of pubs was "valuable" to communities, through providing entertainment, food for families and raising money for chairities. He highlighted pub closure rates and said high tax, competition with supermarkets, pubcos, the weak pound and the smoking ban did not help any business.
Sutcliffe said he would respond soon to the Community Pubs Inquiry.