That this House is disappointed with the Chancellor's decision in his Budget not to substantially reduce the levels of taxation on beer sold in the United Kingdom; believes such a strategy not to be in the interests of the nation which will continue to lose revenue and jobs because of the flood of illegally imported beer arriving into Britain from the Continent; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to take urgent steps to curtail such imports which are seriously undermining the economy, the brewing industry, those who depend upon it for their livelihoods and which puts at risk the great British pub, an institution envied throughout the world.

That this House is disappointed with the Chancellor's decision in his Budget not to substantially reduce the levels of taxation on beer sold in the United Kingdom; believes such a strategy not to be in the interests of the nation which will continue to lose revenue and jobs because of...

That this House congratulates the Northern Federation Brewery workforce, staff, directors, Mr Jim Ramshaw, Chairman, Mr David Brook, Chief Executive on the launch of a new beer, namely Keoghan's Ale, a premium beer sold in both draught and cans; recognises that the Northern Federation Brewery formed in 1919 is wholly owned by shareholding workmen's clubs and is the only true free trade brewery in the world and has contributed generously to many generations of club members and the communities in which they live and through fair and realistic pricing has ensured, that in the North East private breweries have had to take this policy into serious consideration when pricing their own beers; and looks towards the brewing industry to emulate the Northern Federation Brewery in their service to customers.

That this House congratulates the Northern Federation Brewery workforce, staff, directors, Mr Jim Ramshaw, Chairman, Mr David Brook, Chief Executive on the launch of a new beer, namely Keoghan's Ale, a premium beer sold in both draught and cans; recognises that the Northern Federation Brewery formed in 1919 is wholly...

That this House notes the article 'Mr Bung the Brewer' in Private Eye of 26th January detailing the loss of 250 jobs at the Home Ales brewery in Nottingham along with a further 200 at Courage in Halifax in the closure decisions made after the takeover by Scottish and Newcastle breweries; condemns the Government for blocking a referral of the takeover to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission which could have prevented this closure; recognises that Scottish and Newcastle has been a regular and generous donor to the Tory party but that its commercial interests are far from synonymous with the public interest; and calls on the honourable Member for Gedling, in whose area the Home Ales brewery is located, to ask his Conservative constituency party to return the ??5,000 donation made to them by Scottish and Newcastle.

That this House notes the article 'Mr Bung the Brewer' in Private Eye of 26th January detailing the loss of 250 jobs at the Home Ales brewery in Nottingham along with a further 200 at Courage in Halifax in the closure decisions made after the takeover by Scottish and Newcastle...

That this House is dismayed at the decision taken by Scottish Courage to axe 1,600 jobs nationally; is appalled at the proposal to close the Fountain Head brewery in Halifax with the loss of over two hundred jobs; notes that the productivity per employee at the Halifax brewery is higher than any in the group; and calls upon Scottish Courage to reverse its decision on all these closures.

That this House is dismayed at the decision taken by Scottish Courage to axe 1,600 jobs nationally; is appalled at the proposal to close the Fountain Head brewery in Halifax with the loss of over two hundred jobs; notes that the productivity per employee at the Halifax brewery is higher...

That this House notes with concern that, with United Kingdom beer excise duty rates currently around seven times higher than in France, cheap imports of beer continue to flood into Britain at the rate of 1.1 million pints a day and that one-third of this amount is destined for illegal re-sale; believes that the maintenance of a high rate of United Kingdom beer excise duty represents a direct incentive to smugglin and crime, harms British pubs, clubs and off-licences, exports jobs and profit and investment to the Continent, severely distorts competition in the Single Market in favour of Continental producers and retailers and damages an industry which generates 900,000 jobs; believes it is unrealistic to expect other European governments to increase their duty rates significantly in order to solve a British problem; and urges the Chancellor to take serious note of the report of the Parliamentary Beer Club 'Beer Tax Inquiry' and to announce an immediate reduction in beer duty rates in his forthcoming Budget and to set a strategy for phased reductions to the median European level, in order to remove the economic incentive for large scale personal importation and smuggling, to safeguard the traditional British pub and British jobs and to promote fair competition in Europe.

That this House notes with concern that, with United Kingdom beer excise duty rates currently around seven times higher than in France, cheap imports of beer continue to flood into Britain at the rate of 1.1 million pints a day and that one-third of this amount is destined for illegal...

That this House calls the attention of Her Majesty's Government to the fact that British beer drinkers pay seven times more duty on their pint than their French counterparts; notes that as a result increasing amounts of duty paid beer imports from France are creating a serious and growing threat to the jobs of 500,000 British workers employed directly or indirectly in the brewing industry and to 100,000 small businesses; notes, moreover, that for the first time in the history of the brewing industry, there is widespread black marketeering in exported British beers being purchased on the Continent and smuggled back into this country for sale; and accordingly urges Her Majesty's Government to take immediate steps to reduce beer duty to the European average to protect British jobs, promote further inward investment into Britain by European beer manufacturers, maintain the Government's commitment to law and order and achieve harmony and fair competition in the European Market.

That this House calls the attention of Her Majesty's Government to the fact that British beer drinkers pay seven times more duty on their pint than their French counterparts; notes that as a result increasing amounts of duty paid beer imports from France are creating a serious and growing threat...

That this House congratulates the Titanic Brewery of Burslem, Stoke on Trent, for its success as a small business committed to offering drinkers in Staffordshire real choice; notes the work of the Small Independent Brewers' Association in ensuring the effective sales and marketing promotions of its members; and further congratulates the Titanic Brewery for making available its successful Lifeboat beer brewed in Burslem for sale at the House.

That this House congratulates the Titanic Brewery of Burslem, Stoke on Trent, for its success as a small business committed to offering drinkers in Staffordshire real choice; notes the work of the Small Independent Brewers' Association in ensuring the effective sales and marketing promotions of its members; and further congratulates...

That this House condemns the massive and unacceptable pay increases and perks awarded to the Chief Executive and directors of Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries Ltd., bearing in mind the Government's strictures on excessive pay awards, exorbitant beer price increases for Banks' products in recent years, and the company's failure to enhance their employees' pay and conditions by any recognisable comparison with that awarded to its directors, together with the company's offensive decision to make a political donation of ??10,000 to Conservative Party funds; believes that the present Chief Executive and directors are unfit for office; and calls for their immediate resignation.

That this House condemns the massive and unacceptable pay increases and perks awarded to the Chief Executive and directors of Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries Ltd., bearing in mind the Government's strictures on excessive pay awards, exorbitant beer price increases for Banks' products in recent years, and the company's failure to...

That this House views with concern the activities of companies and individuals directly involved in organised smuggling operations connected with the importation into Britain of beer products for resale, which have not either been charged the correct levels of United Kingdom excise duty or tax rates; is alarmed that personal imports including this illegal trade already accounts for 15 per cent. of total 'off' beer sales in Britain, equal to the supplies for approximately 4, 000 average sized pubs, or the actual production of two or more of the major regional brewers; notes that currently half a million people in the United Kingdom are directly employed in beer production, retailing and its distribution, with approximately the same number indirectly in other related operations; notes also that the industry's current total tax payment on its sales, excise duties, VAT and other taxes to the Treasury is approximately ??12 billion per annum; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to recognise the seriousness of such smuggling activities which, unless tackled, will lead to pub and brewery closures in the United Kingdom, loss of jobs, trade, investment, increased prices to the consumer and less revenue to the Exchequer.

That this House views with concern the activities of companies and individuals directly involved in organised smuggling operations connected with the importation into Britain of beer products for resale, which have not either been charged the correct levels of United Kingdom excise duty or tax rates; is alarmed that personal...

That this House condemns the heavy-handed and bullying methods employed by GrandMet in its manoeuvres against the Morning Advertiser's campaign on behalf of Inntrepreneur tenants; notes that the Agriculture Select Committee believed that the Government's policy towards the brewing industry has done nothing to help tenants whilst the six giant breweries have increased their market share by five per cent. to 82 per cent. since the introduction of the Beer Orders; believes that the issues raised by the Morning Advertiser report of 21st May call in question both the fair trading policy of Her Majesty's Government and the actual working practices of GrandMet; and calls upon the President of the Board of Trade to instigate an immediate inquiry into the state of the brewing and licensed trade before more tenants are forced out of business.

That this House condemns the heavy-handed and bullying methods employed by GrandMet in its manoeuvres against the Morning Advertiser's campaign on behalf of Inntrepreneur tenants; notes that the Agriculture Select Committee believed that the Government's policy towards the brewing industry has done nothing to help tenants whilst the six giant...

That this House notes that the Brewers Society wrote to the Department of Trade and Industry about section 43 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 on 9th January, 17th and 25th February 1992, and 4th and 8th March 1993 and meetings between representatives of the Society and the Department took place on 11th and 20th February 1992 and 25th March 1993; further notes that the sale of beer is the only area of weights and measures legislation where the customer does not receive what is paid for; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to resist the constant pressure from the Brewers Society.

That this House notes that the Brewers Society wrote to the Department of Trade and Industry about section 43 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 on 9th January, 17th and 25th February 1992, and 4th and 8th March 1993 and meetings between representatives of the Society and the Department...

That this House welcomes the Department of Trade and Industry's review of Section 43 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 which outlaws the inclusion of the traditional head as part of a pint of beer; considers the cost to the licensed trade of ??35 million to scrap existing glassware and to replace it to be totally disproportionate to the 23 consumer complaints received by the Department of Trade and Industry in 1991, repesenting one complaint for every 256 million pints sold; believes that the existing remedy of drinkers asking for their glass to be topped up is more than adequate to address any consumer dissatisfaction; rejects the alternative of 6 pence or more on a pint of beer; and calls upon the Government which wishes to reduce the burden of regulation upon industry to rescind Section 43.

That this House welcomes the Department of Trade and Industry's review of Section 43 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 which outlaws the inclusion of the traditional head as part of a pint of beer; considers the cost to the licensed trade of ??35 million to scrap existing glassware...

That this House notes that the British beer drinker currently pays 35 pence more per pint in excise duty and VAT than in France; believes that increasing amounts of duty-paid imports from France pose a serious and growing threat to the British brewing industry and jobs in United Kingdom pubs, off-licences and supermarkets; and calls for a reduction in beer duty in order to bring about fair competition in the Single Market.

That this House notes that the British beer drinker currently pays 35 pence more per pint in excise duty and VAT than in France; believes that increasing amounts of duty-paid imports from France pose a serious and growing threat to the British brewing industry and jobs in United Kingdom pubs,...

That this House notes that the small brewers of the United Kingdom are at a serious competitive disadvantage; and therefore urges the Chancellor of the Exchequer to introduce a progressive system of duty on their beers, similar to that being adopted throughout the European Community as now provided for in Council Directive 92/83, agreed during the United Kingdom presidency.

That this House notes that the small brewers of the United Kingdom are at a serious competitive disadvantage; and therefore urges the Chancellor of the Exchequer to introduce a progressive system of duty on their beers, similar to that being adopted throughout the European Community as now provided for in...

That this House deplores the actions of the major brewers who have imposed prohibitively expensive new leases on public house tenants in Wales and served notices-to-quit on tenants unable to comply with new full repair leases; recognises that public houses play an important role in the life of Welsh communities and that many tenants and their families face the prospect of losing both their livelihoods and homes; condemns the unfair system of arbitration in force; and calls on the Secretary of State for Wales to liaise with the major brewers with pubs in Wales and the Office of Fair Trading to enforce a moratorium on the brewers' ruthless action.

That this House deplores the actions of the major brewers who have imposed prohibitively expensive new leases on public house tenants in Wales and served notices-to-quit on tenants unable to comply with new full repair leases; recognises that public houses play an important role in the life of Welsh communities...

That this House notes with concern the announcement by Bass plc of the closure of the Hope Brewery located in the city of Sheffield in view of the high levels of unemployment present in the area and the consequent economic and social damage which this will cause; notes that the decision is to be effective from 1994; and calls upon them to reconsider in the meantime this decision in order to avoid the unacceptable consequences of the proposal.

That this House notes with concern the announcement by Bass plc of the closure of the Hope Brewery located in the city of Sheffield in view of the high levels of unemployment present in the area and the consequent economic and social damage which this will cause; notes that the...

That this House views with alarm the hardship faced by thousands of pub licencees and the damage being done to the interests of consumers and to the industry as a whole; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to review the 1989 Beer Orders as a matter of the utmost urgency.

That this House views with alarm the hardship faced by thousands of pub licencees and the damage being done to the interests of consumers and to the industry as a whole; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to review the 1989 Beer Orders as a matter of the utmost urgency.

That this House views with alarm the disruption now occurring in the licensed trade; deplores the fact that many tenant licensees with long experience of serving the public are being forced either to accept long leases at extortionate rents and with full repairing liabilities or to leave the trade with little hope of finding new employment; notes that beer prices have been substantially increased while the market share held by the four biggest brewery companies has risen to almost 70 per cent., thus negating the aim of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to provide more consumer choice; and therefore calls on the Government (a) to instruct the Director General of Fair Trading to review the position immediately, (b) to introduce a minimum level of compensation for displaced tenants above that provided in the Landlord and Tenant Act and (c) to introduce a form of independent arbitration for the assessment of fair rents.

That this House views with alarm the disruption now occurring in the licensed trade; deplores the fact that many tenant licensees with long experience of serving the public are being forced either to accept long leases at extortionate rents and with full repairing liabilities or to leave the trade with...