Damian Hinds

Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury

HM Treasury

1 Horse Guards Road

London

SW1A 2HQ

Date:  February 8^th 2016
 

Dear Damian,

Re: 1p cut in beer duty

As a signatory of Early Day Motion 919, I am writing to urge you to include a further cut in the beer duty in the forthcoming budget. The EDM reads as follows:

That this House welcomes the ending of the beer duty escalator and the impact of the unprecedented three successive beer duty cuts in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 Budgets in supporting the growth of Britain's breweries and underpinning confidence in the UK's pubs; notes that this has led to an additional 19,000 vital jobs compared to the duty escalator and over £1 billion of investment in the sector expected in 2015-16; and urges the Government to sustain this momentum by considering a further cut in beer duty in the 2016 Budget which would secure pub jobs and help reduce the cost of living for hard-working people.

My constituents have shared their concerns with me about, despite three years of duty cuts, still paying the second highest beer duty in all of Europe. As I am sure you are aware, the UK pays almost 40% of all EU beer duty, despite only consuming 12% of the beer across the EU.

Please let me know you are committed to protecting local pubs and do the right thing in the budget. I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,