Pubs minister refuses to be drawn on beer duty cut

Andrew Percy, the pubs minister, has said it is possible the Government may bow to industry pressure and cut beer duty in March's Budget.

Speaking at a BBPA (British Beer & Pub Association) reception hosted by the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group (APPBG), Percy said that while he couldn’t say there would be a duty cut, "if any group can influence the Chancellor, it is the APPBG, which has been so successful until now".

At the House of Commons reception for north-west MPs, the chief executive of the BBPA, Brigid Simmonds, reiterated the association's calls for a cut in duty.

"We were very pleased to see such a good turnout from north-west MPs, and encouraged by the support and enthusiasm shown for beer and pubs in the region. The industry is vital to both the north-west and national economy, and I hope this importance is recognised with a cut in beer duty on 8 March,” Simmonds said. 

Richard Kershaw, chairman of the BBPA's north-west branch, added that the region had been “hit hard” in the past decade with a 42% rise in beer duty. While three recent cuts and a freeze last year have helped, he warned that the industry is “not out of the woods yet”, and added his voice to the calls for a further beer duty cut in the Budget.