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Public Houses

I thank Mr. Speaker for awarding me this debate and the Minister for staying behind to reply to it. I say affectionately to the Minister that the pub industry and certain products in which it deals are close to his heart, as they are to mine. We share a number of interests, including horse racing and the odd social half hour in the bar downstairs. I am delighted that this Minister is replying to the debate. I am also grateful to the British Beer and Pub Association and the all-party beer group. My hon. Friend the Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans), a member of the group, is here today to take part in the debate. I should also thank my local landlord, Mr. David Baker of the Village Inn in Twyning, for advice, facts and figures. Obviously, pubs are historic institutions and go back many centuries. The Royal Hop Pole in my constituency was mentioned by Charles Dickens in "The Pickwick Papers". Pubs represent a big industry; there are more than 62,000 in Great Britain today and 84 per cent. of them are family-run businesses, which adds a certain importance to them. I notice that the hon. Member for Selby (Mr. Grogan), chairman of the all-party beer group, is here; I paid tribute to it a moment ago. Pubs are extremely valuable to communities; they act as meeting places and many friendships are formed in them. Many groups are set up through pubs—pub football teams and golf societies, for example. Fairly recently I managed to win the tournament put on by my local golf society. I was very proud of that.