Budget statement 18 March 2015. Ways and means resolution. Agreed to on question.

Budget statement 18 March 2015. Ways and means resolution. Agreed to on question.

Today I report on a Britain that is growing, creating jobs and paying its way. We made difficult decisions in the teeth of opposition, and it worked: Britain is walking tall again.

Five years ago, our economy had suffered a collapse greater than that suffered by almost any other country. Today...

Today I report on a Britain that is growing, creating jobs and paying its way. We made difficult decisions in the teeth of opposition, and it worked: Britain is walking tall again.

Five years ago, our economy had suffered a collapse greater than that suffered by almost any other country. Today...

The British economy is fundamentally stronger than it was five years ago, and that is reflected in the latest forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility. It seems remarkable that until this Government came to office, our national forecasts were manipulated by Chancellors, to be fiddled and fixed in pre-election...

The British economy is fundamentally stronger than it was five years ago, and that is reflected in the latest forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility. It seems remarkable that until this Government came to office, our national forecasts were manipulated by Chancellors, to be fiddled and fixed in pre-election...

Since the pound goes further these days, now is a good time to confirm the design of the new £1 coin. Based on the brilliant drawing submitted by 15-year-old David Pearce, a school pupil from Walsall, the new 12-sided pound coin will incorporate emblems from all four nations—for we are...

Since the pound goes further these days, now is a good time to confirm the design of the new £1 coin. Based on the brilliant drawing submitted by 15-year-old David Pearce, a school pupil from Walsall, the new 12-sided pound coin will incorporate emblems from all four nations—for we are...

They do not like to hear it, Mr Deputy Speaker, but inequality is down, child poverty is down, youth unemployment is down, pensioner poverty is at its lowest level ever. The gender pay gap has never been smaller. Payday loans are capped, and zero-hours contracts regulated. Even more than that,...

They do not like to hear it, Mr Deputy Speaker, but inequality is down, child poverty is down, youth unemployment is down, pensioner poverty is at its lowest level ever. The gender pay gap has never been smaller. Payday loans are capped, and zero-hours contracts regulated. Even more than that,...

This Government have undoubtedly been positive for beer and pubs. Many hon. Members, including my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds North West (Greg Mulholland), have campaigned on this issue. It is of course for the Chancellor to announce the Government’s decisions in this respect—I am sure that he has not pulled all those pints himself—but it is certainly the case that the beer and pub industry is stronger in this country, as part of a stronger economy, because of the decisions that this coalition Government have so far made.

This Government have undoubtedly been positive for beer and pubs. Many hon. Members, including my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds North West (Greg Mulholland), have campaigned on this issue. It is of course for the Chancellor to announce the Government’s decisions in this respect—I am sure that he has not pulled all those pints himself—but it is certainly the case that the beer and pub industry is stronger in this country, as part of a stronger economy, because of the decisions that this coalition Government have so far made.

Under the previous Labour Government, thousands of pubs closed and the brewing industry was taxed to the point of extinction. The Campaign for Real Ale now says that the Chancellor has saved 1,050 pubs, sold 75 million extra pints and has been the saviour of Britain’s brewing industry. Does the Chief Secretary agree that this Government have been positive for beer and pubs, and will he urge the Chancellor to keep on supporting our breweries?

Under the previous Labour Government, thousands of pubs closed and the brewing industry was taxed to the point of extinction. The Campaign for Real Ale now says that the Chancellor has saved 1,050 pubs, sold 75 million extra pints and has been the saviour of Britain’s brewing industry. Does the Chief Secretary agree that this Government have been positive for beer and pubs, and will he urge the Chancellor to keep on supporting our breweries?

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the revenue to the public purse from sales of beer since April 2014.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the revenue to the public purse from sales of beer since April 2014.

I bring the House good news. For the first time in 10 years British beer sales are up. The Campaign for Real Ale said the Chancellor’s scrapping of Labour’s hated beer duty escalator and two cuts in beer duty have saved 1,050 pubs. The Sun newspaper, which champions Britain’s beer drinkers, says today that the Chancellor is poised to repeat the cuts. Will the Prime Minister join me in assuring beer drinkers that this Government are on the side of publicans and on the side of British brewers, and will he urge the Chancellor to have a third cut?

I bring the House good news. For the first time in 10 years British beer sales are up. The Campaign for Real Ale said the Chancellor’s scrapping of Labour’s hated beer duty escalator and two cuts in beer duty have saved 1,050 pubs. The Sun newspaper, which champions Britain’s beer drinkers, says today that the Chancellor is poised to repeat the cuts. Will the Prime Minister join me in assuring beer drinkers that this Government are on the side of publicans and on the side of British brewers, and will he urge the Chancellor to have a third cut?

I praise my hon. Friend for the work he has done to support the beer industry, to support Britain’s pubs and to stand up for our local communities where the pub is so often the hub of the village and the community. This Government have been a good friend of Britain’s pubs and the beer industry. I am delighted with the figures my hon. Friend read out. It always goes to show that life’s better under the Conservatives.

I praise my hon. Friend for the work he has done to support the beer industry, to support Britain’s pubs and to stand up for our local communities where the pub is so often the hub of the village and the community. This Government have been a good friend of Britain’s pubs and the beer industry. I am delighted with the figures my hon. Friend read out. It always goes to show that life’s better under the Conservatives.

I am delighted to have secured this debate. I recognise that the final Adjournment debate of the week is not exactly the shift that every Minister wishes for, but I am delighted that she is here today for this important debate. It is important because I am the first MP...

I am delighted to have secured this debate. I recognise that the final Adjournment debate of the week is not exactly the shift that every Minister wishes for, but I am delighted that she is here today for this important debate. It is important because I am the first MP...

While revelling in the congratulations that my hon. Friend is dolling out left, right and centre, may I slightly rain on his parade? Although we are delighted with the abolition of the escalator, the last Budget, which of course introduced the 2% cut in beer duty and a freeze for...

While revelling in the congratulations that my hon. Friend is dolling out left, right and centre, may I slightly rain on his parade? Although we are delighted with the abolition of the escalator, the last Budget, which of course introduced the 2% cut in beer duty and a freeze for...

I recognise the point that my hon. Friend makes, and I would be forced to agree with him as Mrs Griffiths is no stranger to a large pinot grigio. I

point out that the campaign last time was led by a doughty Back Bencher who argued vociferously for cuts in...

I recognise the point that my hon. Friend makes, and I would be forced to agree with him as Mrs Griffiths is no stranger to a large pinot grigio. I

point out that the campaign last time was led by a doughty Back Bencher who argued vociferously for cuts in...

I am delighted to hear about Mrs Griffiths’s delectation of fruit-based drinks for ladies, as I believe someone calls them. Is my hon. Friend aware that there are now 448 commercial vineyards and 131 wineries in the United Kingdom, and that the hectarage given over to vineyards here has more...

I am delighted to hear about Mrs Griffiths’s delectation of fruit-based drinks for ladies, as I believe someone calls them. Is my hon. Friend aware that there are now 448 commercial vineyards and 131 wineries in the United Kingdom, and that the hectarage given over to vineyards here has more...

I absolutely understand the points that my hon. Friend makes, but I gently point out that seven out of 10 drinks that are drunk in pubs are beer. If we value our community pubs, we can support them by supporting the great British brewing industry. Beer gets people into our...

I absolutely understand the points that my hon. Friend makes, but I gently point out that seven out of 10 drinks that are drunk in pubs are beer. If we value our community pubs, we can support them by supporting the great British brewing industry. Beer gets people into our...

I congratulate my hon. Friend on winning the beer award at the marvellous evening that we had on the Terrace. Will he join me in thanking the pub trade and the brewers for their help in reducing drink-driving while maintaining the social life of the pub, where more controlled, sensible...

I congratulate my hon. Friend on winning the beer award at the marvellous evening that we had on the Terrace. Will he join me in thanking the pub trade and the brewers for their help in reducing drink-driving while maintaining the social life of the pub, where more controlled, sensible...

Indeed. If we want to tackle problem drinking, our community pubs are the solution, not the problem. Encouraging people back into the pub is the way to tackle that. My hon. Friend talks about publicans. According to Pub Aid, £120 million is raised for charity each year as result of...

Indeed. If we want to tackle problem drinking, our community pubs are the solution, not the problem. Encouraging people back into the pub is the way to tackle that. My hon. Friend talks about publicans. According to Pub Aid, £120 million is raised for charity each year as result of...

A very short point, and it is not supposed to be too pointed—it is interesting that there is not a single Labour Member present for this important debate on beer.

A very short point, and it is not supposed to be too pointed—it is interesting that there is not a single Labour Member present for this important debate on beer.

I recognise the point that my hon. Friend makes. It is not lost on me that it was Labour that introduced the beer duty escalator, but as I said, many MPs on all sides supported the campaign for its abolition.

When the beer duty escalator was introduced, beer consumption fell by...

I recognise the point that my hon. Friend makes. It is not lost on me that it was Labour that introduced the beer duty escalator, but as I said, many MPs on all sides supported the campaign for its abolition.

When the beer duty escalator was introduced, beer consumption fell by...

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Burton (Andrew Griffiths) not only on securing this debate, but on the reward he received this week for his lobbying and

campaigning on behalf of the beer industry. I pay tribute to him for campaigning solidly over this Parliament on behalf of...

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Burton (Andrew Griffiths) not only on securing this debate, but on the reward he received this week for his lobbying and

campaigning on behalf of the beer industry. I pay tribute to him for campaigning solidly over this Parliament on behalf of...