Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he make it his policy to reduce the rate of beer duty.

The Government values the important contribution made by the pubs and beer sector. For that reason, the Government cut or froze beer duty at six of the last seven Budgets, meaning that beer duty is now at its lowest level for 30 years in real terms. Cuts and freezes in alcohol duties since 2013 have cost the Treasury £6.2 billion in revenue, and the cost of any further cuts or freezes must be balanced against the wider fiscal context and requests for new spending.

However, the Government keeps all taxes under review. Announcements about duty rates will be made in the usual way at the next Budget.