Mulholland calls for pub tax breaks in wake of Autumn statement on Wednesday

By Michelle Perrett

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Community pubs Taxation in the united kingdom

Mulholland calls for pub tax breaks in wake of Autumn statement on Wednesday
Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group, Greg Mulholland MP, has today written to the Chancellor, George Osborne ahead of the Autumn Statement on Wednesday, calling on him to recognise community pubs in the tax system.

Mulholland has urged the Treasury to look at further ways to recognise the value of pubs through the tax system. He cited an Institute of Public Policy Research report which recommended 50% business rate relief for well run community pubs that act as ‘centres of community’. They have produced a method for measuring the social impact of a community pub which could be used to determine which pubs should qualify.

He has also suggested that the Chancellor should look at further relief for real ale by standardising and increasing the allowance on undrinkable sediment present in each cask. That is to compensate brewers for the undrinkable sediment present in each cask.

Mulholland said: “It is high time that the treasury recongised the important role well run community pubs play in communities and the local economy, in this countries tax system. It is evident that with this assistance it would allow community pubs across the country, as well as the brewing sector to thrive

“The recent excellent report by the Institute of Public Policy Research, which recommended 50% business rate relief for community pubs that by meeting a number of criteria are seen the act as the centres of the community would be one way of doing this, as would standardising and increasing the allowance on the undrinkable sediment in cask ale.

“Following the debate in Parliament last month, we will of course be continuing to campaign for the scrapping of the beer duty escalator in next year’s budget​, a policy that makes sense neither economically nor socially, it is unfair, unsustainable and unjustifiable.

“I hope that on Wednesday the Chancellor and the Treasury will look at further positive tax measures that recognise the important place pubs play in communities and the significant contribution they make to the economy.”

 

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