To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of recent trends in the number of pubs closing on the night time economy.

The Department does not make assessments of the effect of the number of pub closures on the night time economy.

The Government recognises the importance of pubs to communities and the high street. At Spring Budget 2017, my rt. hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a package of support for pubs in England with their business rates. This provided a £1,000 discount to all pubs with a rateable value of less than £100,000. This scheme was extended by an additional year into 2018/19 at Autumn Budget.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer also announced at Autumn Budget 2017 that he was freezing all alcohol duties.