North East Fife MP Sir Menzies Campbell has today urged the Chancellor to support Britain’s beer and pub sector by calling time on planned tax increases in the forthcoming Budget.
The campaign is calling on the Government to abandon a planned 5% rise in beer duty, an increase which could threaten up to 16,000 jobs across the UK over the next three years. The campaign is supported by industry and consumer groups including the British Beer and Pub Association, the Society of Independent Brewers and the Campaign for Real Ale.
Sir Menzies commented:
“I know from speaking to pub landlords right across North East Fife that times are tough at the moment. The threat of closure hangs over many of them. The local pub is often the heart of small communities and its closure would have a profound effect. I hope the Chancellor will take action to protect these much-loved pubs and the jobs they provide by scrapping the beer duty escalator.â€
ENDS
Notes to Editors
According to new analysis for the British Beer and Pub Association by Oxford
Economics:
• The beer and pub sector sustains 1601 jobs in the North East Fife constituency, including 531 jobs for 16 – 24 year olds
• The sector adds £21.6 million to the local economy
• The sector also contributes £10.2 million in taxes to the Exchequer
• In total the beer and pub sector supports almost 1 million UK jobs. 46% of those employed in the sector are 16 – 24 year olds.
