Mr Will Forster

I thank all hon. Members for contributing to the debate. I welcome the cross-party support for the change to and a review of beer duty. I thank my hon. Friends the Members for Bath (Wera Hobhouse) and for Carshalton and Wallington (Bobby Dean), the hon. Member for Kingswinford and South Staffordshire (Mike Wood), my hon. Friend the Member for Glastonbury and Somerton (Sarah Dyke), the hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr Brash), my hon. Friend the Member for North Devon (Ian Roome), the hon. Members for North West Norfolk (James Wild) and for Strangford (Jim Shannon), and my hon. Friends the Members for West Dorset (Edward Morello) and for Wokingham (Clive Jones) for their contributions. Overall, the debate was relatively good-spirited and cross-party, with the occasional breakout of political disagreement. From hearing colleagues’ contributions, it is clear that communities across the country would benefit from a review of, and hopefully a cut in, beer duty. There is appetite—quite frankly, thirst—for the Government to look at this. Growth in the economy is vital, and we are offering a solution to try to grow the economy and support local communities. I hope the Minister asks his officials in the Treasury to redouble their efforts to work with the industry, improve EPR, and ensure that we have a thriving hospitality sector. I do have some sympathy for the Minister, who was wheeled out to outline the winter fuel allowance U-turn and now again to try to defend taxing pubs more than we should. He talks about the financial impact, but when he goes back to a pub in Swansea, I hope he considers the benefits of a review. I know he has not committed to a review today, but were the Government to review beer duty in advance of the next Budget, it could have both financial and community benefits that I hope he will ponder over his next pint. Question put and agreed to. Resolved, That this House has considered beer duty.