EVESHAM’S MP is calling on the Chancellor to support pubs in the Vale by cutting beer duty in his latest spending plans.
The tax on beer has been reduced in George Osborne’s last three budgets, and Nigel Huddleston is urging him to do the same again later this month when the Chancellor reveals his budget for 2016.
British beer drinkers pay some of the highest duty’s on beer. In Germany the rate of tax on beer is thirteen times lower than in the UK.
And British drinkers pay almost 40 per cent of all beer tax in the EU, despite only drinking 12 per cent of the beer consumed.
Mr Huddleston believes there is more that can be done to help brewers and pubs.
“Pubs provide my constituents and the people of Britain, not only with a much needed place to socialise, relax and enjoy spending time at the heart of their community, it also provides jobs and money for the local and national economy,” Mr Huddleston said.
“There are 115 pubs in Mid Worcestershire, three breweries and 1,897 jobs in the area that depend on the industry.
“Pubs are also a great employer of young people with 505 jobs in the sector for 16-24 year olds locally.
“Brewing and pubs make a massive contribution to the UK economy. As a sector it supports almost 900,000 jobs across the country and contributes £22billion to UK GDP.
“Mid Worcestershire alone contributes £61.7million to Britain’s GDP with £20.8million paid in taxes.”
