Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps in the Spring Budget 2023 to support small gin distilleries.

On 19 December, I announced that the Government would extend the freeze to UK alcohol duty rates for six months to 1 August 2023. If any changes to duty are announced then, they will not take effect until 1 August 2023. This will align with the introduction of the alcohol duty reforms and ensure gin distilleries will face just one single industry wide change in the summer. Gin distilleries also benefit from the Energy Bill Relief Scheme and will continue to receive discount on their energy bills until 31 March 2024 under the new Energy Bills Discount Scheme.