Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that the brewing industry has an adequate supply of CO2 to service (a) pubs and (b) retail outlets with (i) beer and (ii) cider in the next three months.

The Government recognises the importance of the industrial gases sector, which underpins a number of sectors including food and drink. We understand the concerns of the food and drink sector due to the international carbon dioxide (CO2) shortage.

I have spoken with UK producers and suppliers on a regular basis highlighting the need to restore supplies as quickly as possible and encouraged them to raise with the Government any issues where we may be able to help overcome any obstacles.

We have been assured CO2 producers are working as fast as they can to get the remaining UK plant producing again, CO2 distribution from previously disrupted plants is already reaching the supply chain and the overall CO2 supply has increased this week. Any residual disruption should be resolved in the coming days as the sector returns to business as usual.

I have had discussions with pub and retail outlets about the situation and their concerns. BEIS and DEFRA officials have also been in regular contact with food and drink industry stakeholders via DEFRA’s long-established Food Chain Emergency Liaison Group and other interested stakeholders, including alcoholic drink, pub and retailer trade associations.