Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Lilian Greenwood Excerpts
Tuesday 29th January 2013

(11 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Sajid Javid Portrait Sajid Javid
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My hon. Friend is right to raise this issue, and he has contributed to many debates on it in this House. Making the change would mean lost revenue, and we would have to find another way to cover that loss. He may find it useful if I point out some Government measures that have helped pubs, such as the changes in the annual investment allowance, the cut in the small profits rate of corporation tax and the extension of small rate relief holiday.

Lilian Greenwood Portrait Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) (Lab)
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Why does the Chancellor refuse to review the impact of alcohol taxation? Is he worried that it will show the effect of VAT on the prices in our pubs, and the impact that is having on our pub sector?

Sajid Javid Portrait Sajid Javid
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The hon. Lady will know that the beer duty escalator was introduced by her Government. This Government have inherited those plans and are carrying them out. If she does not like this tax, perhaps she could make a stronger case if she tells us how she would cover the lost revenue.