VAT And Beer Duty

EDM number 150 in 2009-10, proposed by Greg Mulholland on 23/11/2009.
Categorised under the topics of Service industries and Taxation.

That this House notes that value added tax (VAT) is due to rise back to 17.5 per cent. following the recent cut; is concerned that this increase will not be offset by a lowering of duty on alcohol; is further concerned that an eight per cent. increase in duty is pending, and will effectively off-set any benefit pub owners have received from the fall in VAT; regrets that this will result in yet another increase in the price of beer and other beverages which will be to the detriment of the pub industry; recognises that approximately 52 pubs are closing each week in the United Kingdom and that several factors are already negatively affecting the industry; and calls on the Government to lower the duty on beer sales to help the troubled pub industry in this country and on pub-owning companies and breweries to pass the benefit on to licensees who will be able to pass this on to the consumer and actually assist pubs.

This motion has been signed by a total of 34 MPs.