Whilst it is true that government support for pubs with business rate bills is higher than previous government were planning, many pubs are still struggling with the ending of Covid reliefs and so I pushed the minister on when we would get further concessions to support Britain’s pubs.
Transcript
Mr Speaker: Toby Perkins.
Toby Perkins: Thank you very much indeed, Mr Speaker. My hon. friend is absolutely right to say that the party opposite has no credibility on this. Of course, we know that if they had won the election, we either would have seen these increases quicker or the black hole would have been even bigger. it would have been one or the other but nonetheless, it is true that there are many pubs that are really concerned and are under the impression that further help is coming. So, they are trying to make accounting decisions right now. Can he say any more about whether they are going to be seeing exactly the bills that they expect right now, or will further help be coming before April?
Exchequer Secretary: I am grateful to my hon. friend for making the very important point that the previous government didn’t have any plans to continue to extend the pandemic support. On his other question, I am not going to comment today, Mr Speaker, on the speculation. He and others can see the words that the Prime Minister and the Chancellor have said about this at this Dispatch Box and in various media interviews and I don’t have more to say on that.