News: February 2010

John Healey, Minister for Housing and Planning, has seen his portfolio extended by Prime Minister Gordon Brown. He will now also be designated Minister for Pubs.

The move, which has been widely welcomed, signals that the troubles facing the UK pub industry will feature prominently in the forthcoming general election campaign.

Mr Healey has already promised a package of measures within weeks to aid the pub sector, which, recent figures issued by the British Beer & Pub Association reveal, is suffering 39 closures every week.