amendment of the law

Debate between Andrew Griffiths and Nigel Adams

Tuesday 25th March 2014 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Griffiths (Burton) (Con)]

It is a privilege to follow the right hon. Member for Salford and Eccles (Hazel Blears), of whom I am a big fan, and to support what she said in her exciting speech that extolled the virtues of the big society. I congratulate the Secretary of State who has done such a great deal to bring on the big society and social enterprise, through his work at the Centre for Social Justice and in the Department.

I am, however, somewhat disappointed to be speaking in this debate having heard the shadow Secretary of State be so disparaging about the cut in beer duty. It is not just I, the Member of Parliament for Burton—the home of British brewing—who will be disappointed that the Labour party dismissed such an important industry, but the 1 million people who are employed in that industry, the 4,000 people in my constituency who earn a living from the beer and pub industry, and the 120,000 members of the Campaign for Real Ale who campaigned hard across the country because they love British beer, they love the industry and they wanted a cut in duty.

[Nigel Adams (Selby and Ainsty) (Con)]

My hon. Friend, the MP for Britain’s second foremost brewing town, has done a fantastic job on this issue. In the pub over the weekend I noticed a lot of people talking about a penny off a pint. Has he made any assessment of the scrapping of the beer duty escalator, as well as the cut in duty, and how much a pint would have cost had the Labour party had its way?

[Andrew Griffiths]

I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention, and I will not let petty rivalries interfere in this important debate. He is right, however, because this is cumulative: it is not just about the historic cut in duty by a penny this year, but last year’s 1p cut in duty and the scrapping of Labour’s hated beer duty escalator. Added together, they have taken more than 7p off the price of a pint in our local community pubs. Beer drinkers, publicans and the industry will welcome and raise a glass to that, and it is part of the measures that have shown this Government to be the most pro-pub and pro-beer Government in generations. It is historic: this is the first ever Chancellor to cut beer duty two years running, and it comes after the previous Government, when beer duty rose by an eye-watering 42% between 2008 and 2012. Is it any wonder that the industry has been in such dire straits?

This industry is important for our community pubs. We talk about supporting community pubs, but seven out of 10 drinks purchased in a pub are a beer. This is a great British product that is brewed and consumed in this country and employs people in this country. Those 1 million jobs are important—46% of those workers are under 25, and more than 50% are women. If we want to help young people into the jobs market and get more women into the workplace, supporting the hospitality industry, pubs and breweries is exactly the way to do it. CAMRA, the Society of Independent Brewers, and the British Beer and Pub Association have welcomed the support that this Government have shown for beer and pubs.

Last year the Chancellor had a beer brewed in his name. Pennies from 11 was brewed by a Tatton brewery, and Sajid’s Choice was brewed in recognition of the support that the Financial Secretary gave the brewing industry during his time in the Treasury. I have no doubt that in weeks to come, Morgan’s Magnificent Mild will be brewed in gratitude.