Introduction Of Progressive Beer Duty

EDM number 1663 in 1997-98, proposed by Iain Coleman on 19/10/1998.

That this House notes with concern that over 80 per cent. of the beer brewing market is dominated and concentrated in the hands of four national brewers - Scottish Courage, Bass,Whitbread and Carlsberg-Tetley; notes that many craft breweries are at a major competitive disadvantage and are going out of business at an alarming rate; notes the positive effect that the introduction of progressive beer duty will have on the survival and growth of local small craft breweries; further notes that progressive beer duty will help ensure employment creation, encourage competition, encourage choice and stimulate the growth of related industries; notes that unlike UK and European markets where prgressive beer duty exists, the UK duty regime has failed to adapt to changes in the market; notes that the introduction of progressive beer duty will cost the Exchequer ú6 million per annum and will help nearly 300 micro-breweries that each employ under 10 staff; and calls on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to consider the possibility of introducing progressive beer duty on a sliding scale for very small craft breweries producing annually under 30,000 hectolitres of beer.

This motion has been signed by a total of 113 MPs.