In the first round up of 2023, CAMRA’s Campaigns Team shares the work that has been going on across Westminster, the devolved parliaments and local government to campaign in support of consumers, pubs, clubs, cider and perry.  

The team is back after a short break and unfortunately, the problems facing pubs, social clubs, brewers, and cider makers have changed little – rising costs, inflation, high energy bills and uncertainty on government support past April next year.  

While the team spent much of last year trying to keep pace with changes of government, if there’s one thing that’s certain in the world of politics, it’s that there is always an upcoming fiscal event.  

Back in November, CAMRA asked you to email your MP ahead of the Autumn Statement, and it is going to ask you to do the same again as the Spring Budget is taking place in March. 

This will be a make-or-break Budget for the licensed trade, and you can email your MP by using CAMRA’s easy to use e-lobby tool here.  

 

WESTMINSTER  

Ministerial appointments

When the last round up was written, the team was still waiting on some key ministerial appointments in the new prime minister’s government. It has now been confirmed that Kevin Hollinrake MP is the minister responsible for the Pubs Code at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. We’ve written to welcome him to the role and seek an introductory meeting.   

Alcohol duty freeze   

Shortly before parliament went into recess, James Cartlidge MP, the new Exchequer secretary to the Treasury, announced alcohol duties would be frozen from February to August 2023 (when the new tax system is due to be implemented).   

The Campaign’s reaction is here: Alcohol duty freeze welcome respite for pubs, brewers and consumers: CAMRA - Campaign for Real Ale  

Brewery closures and energy bill support

Despite a commitment to announce the results of the review of the Energy Bill Support Scheme before Christmas, by the second week of December no announcement had been made.   

 As another stream of small and independent brewery closures were announced, the team combined available data with some parliamentary questions on support tabled by Charlotte Nichols MP asking for an update from the government.  

You can read the press release here: Plea for energy bill help as string of breweries shut up shop - CAMRA - Campaign for Real Ale  

Energy bills

The government announced the Energy Bill Support Scheme will be replaced by the Energy Bill Discount Scheme from April.   

This represents a significant rollback in support, although it was subsequently revealed brewers and cider makers would receive a slightly higher level of discount as “energy and trade intensive industries”.   

CAMRA’s reaction is here: CAMRA: additional energy discount for brewers welcome, but pubs and social clubs left out in the cold - CAMRA - Campaign for Real Ale  

Aside from the rollback in government support, there are wider issues with the behaviour of energy suppliers in the non-domestic sector. Ofgem is currently carrying out a review of these companies and UKHospitality has released details on representations that it has made to the regulator here: ‘NAME AND SHAME’ – OFGEM URGED TO CALL OUT WORST BEHAVING ENERGY SUPPLIERS - UKHospitality   

CAMRA has also joined calls for parliament to investigate the behaviour of commercial energy providers: CAMRA backs calls for investigation into energy companies’ treatment of pubs - CAMRA - Campaign for Real Ale 

Spring Budget

Team members are now focussed on campaigning ahead of the Spring Budget, including launching CAMRA’s e-lobbying campaign and writing a formal policy submission to the Treasury. 

The Campaign’s three main policy asks for the chancellor are:  

– setting the draught duty rate at 20 per cent lower than the general level

– restoring energy bill support to pubs, clubs and brewers

– action to address the unfair burden of business rates, such as introducing a lower multiplier for pubs, social clubs and their supply chain based on the social and community value that they provide for communities.  

You can email your MP, asking them to back CAMRA’s three-point plan here.

The team will also use CAMRA’s submission to the Treasury to highlight further policy changes including:  

– releasing funding to make capped bus fare schemes in England permanent, with equivalent amounts for devolved nations

– working to apply to draft duty rate in Northern Ireland  

– changing the definition of cider for tax purposes to increase the required minimum juice content.  

Capped bus fares

As part of rallying support for pubs, social clubs, brewers and cider makers in the quieter trading months of the year, the team has been promoting the capped bus fare scheme that is in place in England from January-March as a more affordable and sustainable way to get about to support pubs.  

Alongside this, CAMRA has written to Richard Holden MP, the minister at the Department for Transport responsible for buses, to ask that he considers making the scheme permanent.   

You can read the press release and the letter to Richard Holden MP here: CAMRA encourages people to use bus ticket cap to support pubs sustainably in 2023 - CAMRA - Campaign for Real Ale  

All-Party Parliamentary Pub Group – secretariat service provided by CAMRA

Chair of the Pubs APPG Charlotte Nichols submitted a number of parliamentary questions on energy bills ahead of the Christmas recess:  

– To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make it his policy to extend the Energy Bill Relief Scheme beyond April 2023 for hospitality businesses; and if he will make a statement.   

– To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what support he plans to provide to (a) pubs, (b) social clubs (c) breweries and (d) cider and perry producers for the cost of energy once the Energy Bill Relief Scheme ends; and if he will make a statement.  

–To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the rate of closure of small and independent breweries in the UK in the last 6 months.  

All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group

Mike Wood MP has stood down as chairman due to his appointment to the government. Alun Cairns MP has been elected as his replacement. CAMRA has written to Mike to thank him for his work as Chairman and to Alun to welcome him to his role.  

 

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT 

Cross Party Group on Beer and Pubs – secretariat service provided in part by CAMRA

Since the last round up, the group held an online briefing for MSPs and industry representatives with the Advertising Standards Authority about alcohol advertising and young people in Scotland.   

The group’s AGM was also held in mid-January 2023 and Craig Hoy MSP (Conservative, South of Scotland) was re-elected as convenor. CAMRA continues to provide the secretariat jointly with the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA).   

The group has an exciting programme of activity planned for 2023 including meetings with ministers responsible for implementing the new Deposit Return Scheme, visits to breweries, and inquiry into the cumulative impact of regulation on brewery and pub visits, and a parliamentary pub quiz.    

Alcohol advertising

On 17 November last year, the Scottish government announced its plans to consult on introducing restrictions on alcohol advertising.   

Types of restrictions discussed in the consultation include: 

– a ban on alcohol advertising and sponsorship in sport

– a ban on alcohol advertising outdoors and in public spaces   

– in-store alcohol advertising

– brand-sharing on non-alcohol products (e.g., Guinness ice cream) or merchandise 

– print advertising

– online advertising

– TV and radio advertising [this is proposed but isn’t the responsibility of the Scottish government, so it would need permission from the UK government to do this]. 

CAMRA responded to the announcement raising concerns about the impact on businesses, consumer choice, community and charitable clubs and events, and the future of our own beer festivals: CAMRA comments on the publication of the Scottish Government’s consultation on restriction alcohol advertising and promotion - CAMRA - Campaign for Real Ale   

The Campaigns Team is meeting with a range of Scottish stakeholders and industry groups to work together on this, and is drawing up plans to involve members and branches in campaigning and submitting responses to the consultation, which closes on 9 March. 

Scottish government’s Budget

In December, the Scottish government presented its 2023/24 Budget.  Disappointingly, there was no business rates support for hospitality businesses, as is the case in other nations of the UK. The Campaign’s response is here: More help with business rates needed to save Scotland's pubs from closure - CAMRA - Campaign for Real Ale   

Deposit Return Scheme

The Scottish government has announced changes to its planned Deposit Return Scheme, including removing the requirement for anyone other than supermarkets to have to pay to collect empty bottles and cans sold online.   

CAMRA’s response is here: Choice of good beer still at risk from Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme: CAMRA  - Campaign for Real Ale   

CAMRA is still working with trade associations to raise concerns with the Scottish government to make sure this scheme’s introduction does not lead to smaller businesses stopping sales into the Scottish market reducing choice for consumers.   

Scottish Pubs Code

The Scottish government has appointed Sarah Havlin as the shadow Scottish Pubs Code adjudicator. This is an interim appointment ahead of a permanent adjudicator being appointed when the Tied Pubs Act comes into force, currently planned for May 2023. The team is still waiting for final proposals for the code from the Scottish government. 

Neil Bibby MSP (who proposed the bill) is meeting with the minister Ivan McKee MSP to discuss the behaviour of pub companies toward tenants ahead of the implementation of the Tied Pubs (Scotland) Act. The team is working with Bibby’s office on this ahead of the meeting with the minister.   

Regulation – cumulative impact

On 29 December 2022, the Scottish government announced a task force looking at the cumulative impact of regulation on business. This is in response to concerns from the hospitality sector, and others, that existing and proposed regulations such as Minimum Unit Pricing, a Deposit Return Scheme and a ban on alcohol advertising having a disproportionate impact on the ability of businesses to survive. CAMRA will be looking to meet with the task force and submit evidence to any consultation.  

More information here: Better regulation for businesses - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)   

 

SENEDD CYMRU 

Cross-Party Group on Beer and Pubs - secretariat provided in part by CAMRA 

The Cross-Party Group on Beer and Pubs in the Senedd is holding its AGM in early February. CAMRA has helped develop a programme of activities for 2023 including a briefing on the Welsh government’s plans to introduce a Deposit Return Scheme, brewery visits and a round-table discussion on economic pressures with the economy minister.

Planning

The Campaign is still waiting for a response from the Welsh government into last year’s Senedd Local Government Committee report into Community Assets, which we used to request greater planning protection for pubs in Wales (which can currently be demolished or converted without planning permission).  

 

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY 

Stormont

The Northern Ireland Assembly is still suspended as political parties are unable to establish an executive. At the time of writing, there is a deadline for restoring the power sharing government, otherwise a fresh set of assembly elections will be called for mid-May. The Campaign has resources available for members and the Northern Ireland branch to lobby candidates should an election be called. 

Licensing review

The independent review of licensing is now underway, conducted by the University of Stirling. It has two years to complete the review and report back to the Northern Ireland Executive.   

The Campaigns Team is working with the local branch to develop a communications plan about why licensing laws in Northern Ireland need fundamental reform, and programme of engagement with MLAs to build political support for reforms. 

The team is also making plans for CAMRA’s own mini-inquiry with consumers, independent pubs and producers to make recommendations to the review.   

That’s all for this round up. As always, if any CAMRA member wants campaigning advice, or has questions about what CAMRA is up to, the Campaigns Team is here to help – just email campaigns@camra.org.uk    

Ellie Hudspith, Paul Edgeworth and Cam Weddell – the CAMRA Campaigns Team