BBPA head Brigid Simmonds calls on MPs to support beer duty freeze
The head of the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has called on MPs to support a freeze on beer duty in a bid to protect thousands of jobs.
Brigid Simmonds (pictured), chief executive of the BBPA, wrote to MPs asking them to support a Parliamentary motion that calls for a freeze in beer duty in the 20 March Budget.
Early Day Motion (EDM) 892 would protect the change and momentum made in the 2013 Budget, which cut duty and removed the beer duty escalator. The motion claims that a freeze on duty would secure over 2,000 jobs "in pubs up and down the land". It calls the 2013 duty cut "historic".
Simmons is also urging BBPA members to write to their own MPs asking them to support the EDM, which was tabled by Andrew Griffiths MP. It already has the support of 24 MPs from across political parties.
She said: "Last year's cut gave the industry a real confidence boost, but another freeze will allow us to create more jobs, boost the economy and put money back into people's pockets."
The BBPA seeks to protect and champion legislation and conditions in UK pubs. The beer escalator duty is just one of the issues on which it has helped campaign.
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