MP's request for pub tax debate denied
In the House of Commons business statement, chair of the British Pub Confederation, Greg Mulholland, requested a debate on how pubs can be better acknowledged for their value to communities.
"May I ask the leader of the house for a debate on the situation regarding the way that we tax pubs? 37% of pubs in this country are facing a rate rise; many thousands face paying £10,000 or more, which will put many pubs in this country out of business.
"For pubs in Manchester, Leeds, London and all the country, can we have a debate urgently on Government time about how we can recognise the social value of pubs in the tax system?" the Liberal Democrat MP told parliament.
Responding to Mulholland's request, David Lidington, the Government's leader of the House of Commons, said: "While I cannot offer a specific Government debate on that subject, I can assure the honorable gentleman that the debate on the forthcoming budget statement will, I am absolutely confident, provide him with the opportunity to raise all those questions."
Persistent pressure
The call for a Parliamentary debate on pub business rates follows months of pressure from within the pub industry for a rethink on the new rateable values for pubs, which will take effect in April.
The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has written to the chancellor calling for transitional relief for the pubs worst affected by rate rises and the Government has already conceded that it is considering "further support" for the business worst hit by the rate rises.
Mulholland's demands that the social value of pubs be better recognised follow him exclusively revealing to The Morning Advertiser that he would like to see the community value of pubs taken account of in business rate calculations. "The system needs to recognise the helpful value and community role that pubs play. That is why I think there needs to be a different classification for community pubs," he said.
