Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the contribution of regional brewers on local economies and tourism.

The Government is committed to ensuring that the beer and pub sector remains diverse, competitive and rooted in local communities, supporting investment and growth across towns and villages. The manufacture of alcoholic beverages supports jobs across the country with over 75% of employees working outside of London and the South East in 2024.

Small Producer Relief (SPR) supports SMEs and new entrants by permitting smaller producers who make 4,500 hectolitres or fewer of alcohol per year to pay reduced duty rates on all products below 8.5% ABV. At Budget 2025, the government increased the cash discount provided to small producers, maintaining the relative value of SPR compared to the main duty rates.

In addition, the Government has conducted a review of the beer market to determine whether there are any structural barriers preventing small breweries from accessing pubs, the findings from which are currently being reviewed. We will be announcing the outcome of the review in due course.

More broadly, we are keen to ensure that Britain’s coastline – including the Suffolk coast – remain an attraction to domestic and international visitors. The Government has set an ambitious goal to grow annual inbound tourism to 50 million visitors by 2030. To help achieve this, we have established a new Visitor Economy Advisory Council, which is currently helping to co-create a Visitor Economy Growth Strategy. The Strategy endeavours to share the benefits of tourism across every nation and region, including coastal and seaside areas.