Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Helen Whately and Philip Dunne
Tuesday 17th May 2022

(2 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Philip Dunne Portrait Philip Dunne (Ludlow) (Con)
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13. What fiscal steps his Department is taking to support small and medium-size enterprises.

Helen Whately Portrait The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Helen Whately)
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Small and medium-sized businesses are at the heart of our economy, creating jobs and prosperity across the UK. Last week, we wrote to more than 2 million businesses setting out our support to them, including a £1,000 cut to employment taxes, extending the annual investment allowance limit, reducing business rates and cutting fuel duty by 5p.

Philip Dunne Portrait Philip Dunne
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In considering responses to the Treasury’s consultation on simplifying alcohol duty, will my hon. Friend consider a model that broadly relates duty to alcohol strength but without creating massive complexity and cost for the UK’s thousands of off licences and wine shops, including important small and medium-sized enterprises in Shropshire, which create jobs, supporting both the wine import and brewing sectors?

Helen Whately Portrait Helen Whately
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As my right hon. Friend knows, we have set out our plans to make alcohol duty simpler and fairer—a change that is long overdue. That includes a new relief for draught beer, small producer relief for craft cider makers and the end of the higher rate for sparkling wine. I am listening to the sector and I have visited businesses to hear for myself, to make sure that the reforms work in practice.