THE biggest-ever survey of its kind has been launched in the Richmond constituency to assess the health of a crucial part of the rural economy.

Tory MP Rishi Sunak has written to every pub in his sprawling area - almost 200 of them - to find out how they are doing and what can be done to help them in the future.

"Pubs are cornerstones of rural areas like ours. Not only do they provide employment for hundreds of local people, but they lie at the heart of so many communities and help to sustain the social fabric of North Yorkshire," he said.

The survey covers a range of industry issues including beer pricing, the tie between tenants and pub companies, staff recruitment, business rates and licensing laws.

Pub owner Charles Cody, landlord of the Charles Bathurst (CB) Inn in Arkengarthdale, the Punch Bowl at Low Row and leaseholder of the King's Arms at Askrigg, said he welcomed the opportunity to contribute.

He said: "I think it is a very positive initiative. It recognises the challenges pub sector is facing and I welcome Mr Sunak's survey as a way of getting across the views of pub owners and tenants."

Michael Hunt, a tied tenant of Marstons at The Green Dragon in Bedale, also welcomed the survey. He said: "I've been in and out of the pub business for years and this is the first time that anyone has asked me directly about what I think about the way the industry operates as a whole and what could be done to improve it."

Support also came from Sir Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire which holds the annual Yorkshire's Favourite Pub Award.

He said: "Pubs are part of the special character of Yorkshire and I welcome any initiative which seeks to help them prosper."