MP ATTENDS UK PUBS CRISIS MINISTERIAL SUMMIT

4.56.57pm GMT Mon 16th Mar 2009

Paul Keetch, Member of Parliament for Hereford, has revealed that the Government faces increasing pressure after recent figures from the British Beer and Pub Association show that the rate of pub closures in the UK have accelerated to nearly six per day.

In attending the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group UK Pubs Crisis Ministerial Summit the MP had the opportunity to raise questions with Ministers from five different Government departments about the state of the ailing British Pub industry and what the Government intends to do about it.

Commenting, Paul Keetch said, "I attended the summit to represent Herefordshire's publicans and consumers alike. The local pub is an important element of the community and with nine pub closures within my constituency since 2006, action has to be taken to prevent the Government from increasing beer tax in the forthcoming budget.

"With an Early Day Motion laid by my Liberal Democrat colleague, Bob Russell MP, having received 186 signatures, the campaign to save the Great British Pub really is one which has cross-Party support and cannot be ignored in its calls for the Government to make plans to safeguard the future of this industry.

"With England's Chief Medical Officer today proposing minimum prices for each unit of alcohol, ironically then such a measure, if accepted, could serve to see an increase in footfall through the pub doors and a move away from supermarket purchases which seem to be the current trend."