To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what steps his Department has taken to assist public houses to avoid closure; (319141)

Ministers recognise the important role pubs can play in maintaining community life and there is concern across Government about the number of community pubs that have been forced to close during the recession. The Department of Communities and Local Government is working with a range of Government Departments to develop a package of measures to support community pubs.

Government action cannot sustain pubs that are fundamentally unviable but it is right to do everything possible to support those pubs that play an important community role. We will announce this package shortly.