I know the value of our local pubs, not just in Newbury, but also in our surrounding villages. During the election, I invited the Chancellor to visit the West Berkshire Brewery in order to highlight the successful industry we have on our doorstep, and I will continue to support our local pubs as your MP.
With regards to beer duty, in 2013, the Government took the decision to end the beer duty escalator, and beer duty has been frozen or cut several times since then. Duty on spirits has been frozen over the past two years.
More recently, a one-third discount to business rates for pubs and bars with a rateable values below £51,000 was introduced in 2018, and has now been increased to a 50 per cent discount for 2020-21. On top of this, as many as 18,000 pubs are expected to benefit from the new Pubs Relief set to be introduced this April, which will take £1,000 off the business rates bills of qualifying small pubs.