Recently I have received a number of emails from
constituents asking if I would speak in support of a petition with regards to
beer duty.
As Vice Chair of the Parliamentary Beer Group, I
see it as both a duty and a privilege to be able to speak up regularly for pubs
and breweries across the UK, including St Austell Brewery, an important local
business and jobs creator.
My campaign work has helped secured a commitment
from the Treasury to review the Small Brewers Relief in the 2018 Budget.
This could help cut up to a third off the cost of
running a pub.
In addition, I am also glad that the Government
announced that beer, cider and spirits duty would be frozen for another year.
This means a pint of beer is now 14p cheaper than
it would have otherwise been.
The Government has made clear to MPs that it
recognises the important role pubs play in our communities.
In the last decade, the Government’s decisions have
saved drinkers £5bn and meant beer duty has fallen by 15% in real terms.
I recognise that the Beer Duty, if not frozen,
could have a significant impact on the cost of running local pubs. Therefore I
will continue to work with campaign groups like CAMRA in my role with the
Parliamentary Beer Group to make sure we have the best arrangements in place
for pubs, and will be raising the concerns my constituents have to the
Chancellor when I am next able to.
