Beer and Pub Taxation

Debate between Steve Baker and Mike Wood

Wednesday 5th February 2020 Westminster Hall

[Mike Wood]

The system of non-domestic rates—business rates—is fundamentally a system of local taxation that was designed in the 19th century, building on the previous poor law. It really does not suit the needs and features of a 21st-century economy, particularly one where so much retail is increasingly moving out of town or on to the internet—as yet, nobody has designed an effective virtual pub that can serve a virtual beer that is quite a satisfying as the real thing. We are in a position where our community pubs are at an unfair disadvantage, as the hon. Lady says, compared with businesses that can reduce their liabilities.

[Mr Steve Baker (Wycombe) (Con)]

Will my hon. Friend allow me to intervene before he moves on?

[Mike Wood]

I promised my hon. Friend the Member for Henley (John Howell) that I would give way to him.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mike Wood]

Again, my hon. Friend pre-empts a later part of my speech. In terms of attracting tourists and investment into the United Kingdom, beer and pubs are one of the top three things tourists say they want to do while they are visiting. Of course they want to have fish and chips. Normally, they also want to visit some of the heritage, whether it is Buckingham Palace or Stratford-upon-Avon. The third thing that always comes up is that they want a pint of proper British beer in a proper British pub.

[Mr Steve Baker]

My hon. Friend is being incredibly generous in giving way, and I know he wants to make progress, but will he help me put on record the sheer scale of the attendance at this debate? Clearly the Minister would be incredibly popular if only he cut tax on beer and pubs. With that, I will let my hon. Friend resume his magnificent speech.

Leaving the EU: Economic Analysis

Debate between Steve Baker and Mike Wood

Tuesday 30th January 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Baker]

I expect us to conclude a free trade agreement with the European Union that includes agreements in relation to product conformity. I hope that we will make rapid progress through these negotiations now that we have made sufficient progress and are moving on to the next stage. I very much hope that everyone in this country, including manufacturers, to which the hon. Gentleman refers, will be given an accelerated degree of certainty as we progress through the negotiations.

[Mike Wood (Dudley South) (Con)]

Is my hon. Friend familiar with the PwC analysis that suggests that the UK could be the fastest growing economy in the G7 between Brexit and 2050?

[Mr Baker]

I am extremely grateful to my hon. Friend for pointing that out.

Exiting the EU: Sectoral Analysis

Debate between Steve Baker and Mike Wood

Tuesday 7th November 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Baker]

As I have not ceased saying, we are not in possession of quantitative studies forecasting the impact of leaving the EU. What the public deserves is to have this House pull together to deliver a successful result, which requires us to maximise our negotiating capital by not releasing information that would be prejudicial to the future of the country.

[Mike Wood (Dudley South) (Con)]

Although these analyses do not contain sectoral impact assessments, they may contain sensitive and confidential information, so will the Minister engage with the Chairman of the Select Committee to ensure that the information in these reports is handled appropriately with the public and the Committee?

[Mr Baker]

As I understand it, a meeting has already been arranged between the Secretary of State and the Chairman of the Committee to do just that.