Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the potential merits of reinstating the freeze in alcohol duty for draught beer and cider.

The Government keeps the duty rates under review during its yearly budget process and aims to balance the impact on businesses with its public health objectives.

The alcohol duty uprating decision and interactions with the wider reforms to alcohol duties will be considered in due course.

The next steps of the Alcohol Duty Review announced in the Growth Plan will continue as planned. This includes the introduction of the new lower duty rate for draught beer and cider due to be implemented from 1 August 2023.