Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MPs call for tax package to save pubs
PHILIP Hammond is facing new calls to cut crippling tax rates for struggling pubs.
In a pre-Budget message, MPs have urged the Chancellor to freeze beer duty and introduce an annual £50,000 business rate relief package for pubs.
Tory MP Mike Wood, chairman of the all-party parliamentary beer group, said: “Nearly one million people work in this industry and the sector contributes £23billion to our economy. And the Treasury should be very grateful for the £13billion of taxes that it pays.”
The Sunday Mirror’s Save Our Pubs campaign, backed by Camra, has called for government help as pubs are now closing at a rate of 21 a week.