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Small Breweries Relief
09 November 2020
Lead MP
Liz Saville-Roberts
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
EconomyTaxation
Other Contributors: 1
At a Glance
Liz Saville-Roberts raised concerns about small breweries relief in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The debate focuses on the critical support for small breweries relief scheme in Wales. Liz Saville-Roberts highlights various independent breweries within her constituency, emphasising their importance and current challenges due to global beer companies' dominance over market access. The speech elaborates on historical context of the SBR introduced in 2002 to aid competition against large corporations. She expresses concern about recent proposed changes reducing relief thresholds affecting numerous small-scale operations negatively during the ongoing pandemic-induced hardships. Saville-Roberts urges for maintenance and protection of the scheme's original principles, advocating for its continuation until a comprehensive review can be conducted post-pandemic recovery.
Grahame Morris
Lab
Easington
Morris supports small breweries, mentioning Castle Eden Brewery and expressing concern over proposed changes to the Small Breweries Relief Scheme which could lead to closures of many small producers. He advocates against reducing the threshold for relief and warns that transitioning from percentage to cash basis could undermine long-term value.
Government Response
Minister Kemi Badenoch responds, acknowledging the importance of craft brewing industry in UK. She explains that while there has been a renaissance with increased number of small brewers entering market due to SBR, criticisms from within sector necessitated review since 2018. The Treasury announces changes including gradual taper and conversion to cash basis to align relief costs more accurately reflecting production expenses without abrupt increase in tax burdens for most producers until at least January 2022. She emphasises engaging with over 300 breweries during review process, dismissing claims of unfair competition advantage for large firms. Badenoch reassures the House that reforms will not come into effect until post-consultation next year and invites continued dialogue through proposed consultations.
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About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.