North Cornwall MP Scott Mann has called on Chancellor Philip Hammond to cut beer, wine and cider duty to help small and medium-sized breweries, vineyards and pubs in North Cornwall.
Writing to the Chancellor ahead of the Budget in March, Scott Mann urged Philip Hammond to cut duty in order to help small breweries and vineyards as well as pubs in small villages and towns.
In Westminster Scott Mann sits on the All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) for beer, cider and wine which pro-actively campaign to strengthen each industry on a cross-party basis.
Scott Mann said:
“Cornwall should be very proud of its beer, cider and wine industries. The breweries, vineyards and pubs employ many people in the county and also significantly contribute to supply chains in the South West.
“It’s our small independent pubs in particular that need help. Pubs are continuing to close every week in the UK and they lie at the heart of our small rural communities.
“A cut in duty for beer, cider and wine would boost business for our pubs while helping our small breweries and vineyards to invest, grow and employ more people.”
The brewing and pub sectors make a significant economic contribution to North Cornwall. Figures from the British Beer and Pub Association show that they support 2,501 jobs in North Cornwall and provide £59.6m in value to the local economy.
Across the country, the beer and pub sector supports almost 900,000 jobs and adds £23bn in value to the UK economy.
North Cornwall has 105 of the South West’s 5,012 pubs and is home to eight of the region’s 196 breweries. The South West pub and beer industries also support 91,017 jobs which receive £989.7m in wages.
