Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury in response to the Question from the hon. Member for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey on 9 September 2025, Official Report, column 724, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the number of pub closures in 2025 so far.

The Chancellor’s decision at Autumn Budget 2024 to cut duty for draught products, whilst uprating alcohol duty in line with inflation for main rate products balanced the need to fund public services, disincentivise harmful alcohol consumption, and support moderate, responsible drinkers with the cost of living.

This kept the tax on non-draught products stable in real terms, which the Government does not expect to have any significant macroeconomic impacts. The Tax Impact and Information Note (TIIN) for this decision is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-the-rates-of-alcohol-duty/alcohol-duty-uprating

To support spirits producers, the Government has:

• agreed a trade deal with India which will reduce tariffs on gin and whisky exports from 150% to 75% initially, and then 40% over time;

• ended the alcohol duty stamps scheme on 1 May 2025, reducing the administrative burden on spirit producers and importers, including Scotch Whisky distilleries;

• invested £5m in the Spirits Drink Verification Scheme (SDVS) to enable HMRC to cut the fees it charges producers for its verification service.