Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, will he bring forward proposals to extend the business rates relief and grant support for pubs and the hospitality sector to include British-owned small independent breweries.

The business rates holiday means that an estimated additional 350,000 properties used for retail, hospitality or leisure will pay no business rates in 2020-21, saving these businesses almost £10 billion.

Local Authorities can also choose to make discretionary grants through the Government’s central discretionary fund, worth £617million, to businesses such as breweries if they feel there is a particular local economic need. To support pubs and breweries during this time, HMRC have made it easier to claim back the duty on any beer thrown away as a result of pub closures.