NORTH Yorkshire has a solution to the problem of rural communities losing their village pub, an MP from the county has told a House of Commons debate.
Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones said Pub Is The Hub, a national organisation based in his constituency, gave support that enabled pubs to maintain their viability.
He said: “It especially promotes diversification into providing some of the important services that might not be provided otherwise. So it achieves two goals; it maintains important local services and it prevents the diminution of rural communities by underpinning the ancient tradition of the pub.”
Earlier in the debate, East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight warned changes to licensing laws and the smoking ban had made life difficult for pubs, particularly as many could not now provide live entertainment.
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