Thank you for contacting me about supporting our pubs.
No one wants to see further restrictions and I understand that many pub landlords have concerns about the new lockdown measures. However, in light of the rapid spread of the virus across the country and the current transmission rates, these measures are regrettably necessary to prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed.
The closure of pubs has been difficult to bear and the Government is rightly providing significant support for hospitality businesses. It is reassuring that the Chancellor has unveiled further economic support for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, including pubs, in light of the new lockdown restrictions. New one-off top-up grants have been announced, worth up to £9,000 per property, to help businesses through to the spring.
For those businesses not eligible for the grants, a £594 million discretionary fund is being made available by the Government as a matter of urgency.
The new one-off grants comes in addition to billions of pounds of existing business support, including grants worth up to £3,000 for closed businesses, and up to £2,100 per month for impacted businesses once they reopen.
I understand that pubs have been subject to debilitating restrictions for a long time, and I hear requests for a longer-term sector-specific package of support. While I take account of your concerns, and will bear them in mind, I welcome that pubs have had access to unprecedented levels of support throughout the pandemic. Ministers have been forthcoming in unveiling support grants, business rates relief, Government-backed loans and access to schemes such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. As a package, these measures work to support publicans and I know that Ministers will continue to respond to developments as they happen.
Despite this, I am glad that evidence continues to be collected on the impact of the pandemic on the hospitality sector and we must look forward to the easing of restrictions as soon as possible. I will continue to make the case in Parliament for more direct support for our pubs so that communities do not lose them for good.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Kind Regards,
Sally-Ann Hart MP