2023

Thank you for contacting me about tax on beer and pubs. I appreciate the importance of this issue. Pubs are a vital part of our high streets and social fabric in communities throughout the country and play an important role in our national economy. Yet they have been hit hard, first by COVID-19 and now by the energy and economic crises. Even before the pandemic, they were under severe threat, with a 15% fall in their number from 2010 to 2020. I note the proposed reforms on beer and cider duty, VAT and business rates put forward by organisations such as CAMRA and Long Live the Local. On beer duty, as you will know, the Government has proposed reforms to alcohol duties from 1 August that will reduce rates on draught beer, as well as some lower strength beers. It has also reinstated a previously cancelled freeze in alcohol duty, until new rates are introduced in August. On VAT, the Government has said it has no plans to reintroduce a reduced rate for hospitality.

The Opposition Day debate took place on Tuesday 23 May 2023 and the topics were Leasehold Reform and School Building Safety.

On the Anniversary Day I signed the book and I hope peace will come to this beautiful country

I attended an event in the Jubilee Room on 16 May 2023 to find out about the campaign for a new due diligence law to protect human rights and the environment .

I was a member of the Committee that scrutinised the Statutory Instrument,(SI)  The Houses in Multiple Occupation ( Asylum Seeker Accommodation) (England) Regulations 2023. This piece of legislation has been rushed through and whilst I made an intervention to seek clarity, from the Minister, she failed to take other interventions. These are a mechanism whereby questions can be raised on the legislation and Ministers can clarify the legislation.