Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the impact of the alcohol duty freeze on pubs in South Shropshire.

Pubs and breweries make an enormous contribution to our economy and society, and this is recognised in the tax system.

At the Budget, the Chancellor cut alcohol duty on qualifying draught products – approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. This represents an overall reduction in duty bills of over £85m a year and is equivalent to a 1p duty reduction on a typical pint. This reduction increased the relief available on draught products to 13.9%.