In a regular series for What's Brewing, the CAMRA Campaigns team shares the work that has been going on across Westminster, the devolved parliaments and local government in support of consumers, pubs, clubs, live beer, cider and perry. 

It has been another busy few months for campaigners as the issues facing consumers and the licensed trade has continued to pose a series of challenges. 

A special Budget round-up is available here, which gives you an overview of all the announcements in the UK government’s latest Budget. 

Here’s what the team has been up to since then: 

 WESTMINSTER 

Takeaway draught sales

With the new system of alcohol duty coming into force on 1 August, we have been trying to make a small change to the legislation for this new tax system to help incidental draught takeaway sales to continue without an undue burden on licensees. That work had included meetings with the Treasury to find solutions, responding to consultations, writing to ministers and working with key MPs in parliament. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to amend the legislation.  

Crucially, our work with SIBA and the Treasury did secure a concession that will allow producers to pay the general duty rate on draught containers so they can be sold for making off sales, but this only helps specialist shops that retail large amounts of takeaway draught beer rather than licensees to make incidental sales to designated drivers or other consumers to enjoy fresh beer or cider at home.  

You can see our response to this new duty system – and why we want a change to avoid a ban on takeaway pints – here: CAMRA: tax reforms brilliant news for small brewers and cider makers, but changes needed to avoid a stealth ban on takeaway pints - CAMRA - Campaign for Real Ale 

While a solution hasn’t yet been found, we will continue to campaign for a change to the system on this issue – especially in the run up to the next Budget. 

We have also been working on briefing CAMRA festivals on the changes and the steps they need to take to ensure compliance with the new system.  

High Street Rental Auctions (England only)

Thousands of CAMRA members and supporters have been taking part in our campaign to get the government to re-think its plans on High Street Rental Auctions to ensure pubs keep their planning protections.  

You can find out more about the campaign to keep protections in the planning system for pubs here. 

If you haven’t already taken part, use our e-lobby tool to contact your MP here. 

We have met with the External Affairs Team at the Department for Levelling Up Housing, and Communities to discuss the proposals. This is a positive step, and it was valuable to discuss the background and intentions of the consultation.  

We have created a template consultation response for CAMRA branches to use in the official government consultation, which can be found in the Campaigns Hub. We will continue to campaign for a government rethink on this. 

Energy bill support

Energy bill support for businesses was drastically rolled back from 1 April. CAMRA commented here: Cut in help for energy bills could spell end for nation’s locals - CAMRA - Campaign for Real Ale 

Ahead of the Budget, CAMRA backed calls for a parliamentary investigation into the behaviour of commercial energy companies: CAMRA backs calls for investigation into energy companies’ treatment of pubs - CAMRA - Campaign for Real Ale   

Following the announcement that Black Sheep brewery has put out notice to appoint administrators, we took the opportunity to raise important points about trading conditions and lack of government support: CAMRA responds to the news that Black Sheep Brewery has put out notice to appoint administrators - CAMRA - Campaign for Real Ale 

Exchequer Secretary

Following the resignation of Dominic Raab MP as deputy prime minister, a mini reshuffle resulted in James Cartlidge MP being moved from the role of exchequer secretary to the Department for Justice, with Gareth Davies MP being appointed as the new exchequer secretary to the Treasury. 

We have written to Gareth Davies welcoming him to the role and requested a meeting to brief him on the outstanding issue with draught takeaway sales as part of the implementation of the Alcohol Duty Review. 

All-Party Parliamentary Pub Group – secretariat provided by CAMRA

The Pubs APPG held it’s AGM on 18 April. This was well attended, and a good work program was agreed for the following year: 

• High Street Rental Auctions: a letter has been sent to the chair and clerk of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee, asking them to look at the impact of these proposals and plans are underway for a one-off evidence session.  
• Assets of Community Value: The APPG members will take the issue of “gold-plating” nominations forward to their own councils and encourage other MPs to do the same. A template letter will be provided for them. 

• Relaunch of Parliamentary Pub of the Year competition: This is being planned for the start of the summer recess in order to encourage MPs to visit (and then nominate) pubs in their constituencies.  

Durham branch visit with Richard Holden MP (minister responsible for buses)

Paul Edgeworth attended a visit arranged with the Durham branch in Consett, and the Campaigns Team provided briefing materials for attending volunteers. The focus of the event was public transport provision and the £2 capped fare scheme in England which has been extended until later in the year. 

Richard Holden was very engaged on the issue and suggested further campaigning routes, such as extending the hours that concessionary bus passes are accepted past 11pm.  

This formed part of CAMRA’s activities as part of Better Transport Week in June, where CAMRA worked with the Campaign for Better Transport to promote pub-going via public transport. 

Department for Industry and Trade and the Pubs Code Review

Earlier in the year, chief executive Tom Stainer and senior campaigns manager Ellie Hudspith met with civil servants at the newly formed department, and the minister currently responsible for the Pubs Code, Kevin Hollinrake MP, to receive an update on the second statutory review.   

Our contributions focussed on our main requests from our submission to the review – investigating widening the scope of the code, introducing guest beer rights and increasing the powers of the adjudicator.  

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 

Ellie continues to attend the Drinks Industry Forum, which generally receives updates on upcoming legislation, research and consultations, and collects feedback from producers and their trade associations. Recent topics have included perception of low-alcohol descriptors, deposit return schemes in development across the UK, and extended producer responsibility.  

Community Ownership Fund

CAMRA reacted to the announcement of round three of Community Ownership Fund from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. 

You can see its reaction here: Communities encouraged to bid for new cash to save their locals - CAMRA - Campaign for Real Ale 

NORTHERN IRELAND 

Windsor Framework

Under the UK/EU deal the “Windsor Framework” covers the extension of powers over excise and VAT in Northern Ireland to the UK government.

This means that Northern Ireland will benefit from the new draught duty rate (and this is something that the government has majored on in the materials released with the framework:   

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1139037/VAT_and_excise_-_Sector_explainer.pdf   

The Campaign’s reaction is here: Raise a glass to lower rate of tax for draught beer in Northern Ireland: CAMRA - CAMRA - Campaign for Real Ale   

Northern Ireland Assembly

The Stormont Assembly continues to be suspended. CAMRA is ready to roll out campaigns whenever it is reinstated or if there is a snap assembly election. 

In the meantime, the Campaigns Team is offering support for campaigning targeted at improving choice for consumers in the west of Northern Ireland. 

SCOTLAND 

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

MSPs and their staff attended a group visit to Moonwake brewery, Leith in March to discuss issues facing the beer and pubs sector. Campaigns manager Paul Edgeworth joined regional director Stuart McMahon and volunteers from Edinburgh branch at the event. 

The CPG is holding a dinner in June with MSPs and Scottish ministers to discuss alcohol harms and the work that is already going on in the sector. 

Scottish government appointments

CAMRA has written to new ministers in the Scottish government with responsibility for policies on: 

• alcohol advertising – the first minister announced that his government would go back to the drawing board on their policy for an outright ban on advertising and promotion of alcohol. 
• Pubs Code – implementation of the Scottish Pubs Code is still on hold until an appeal of the judicial review decision is heard later this year. 
• Business rates – the previous Scottish government had announced a review into the cumulative impact of business regulation. This review will be relaunched with a view to looking at how the Scottish government can better support business. 

Deposit Return Scheme

The Scottish Deposit Return Scheme is now on hold, pending further discussions with the UK government about aligning it with similar initiatives in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

CAMRA had been asking for a UK-wide scheme to help ensure that small producers didn’t have to sign up to different systems with varying degrees of cost and bureaucracy, so this is potential good news for consumers in the long run. 

CAMRA is awaiting further discussion between the Scottish and UK governments on an agreed way forward. 

The Scottish government had previously delayed the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme from August 2023 to 1 March 2024, alongside a package of new measures to simplify it and make it more accessible for small producers and the hospitality sector. CAMRA’s response to that announcement is here: Deposit Return Scheme delay and alcohol advertising re-set chance to save choice of good beer and cider in Scotland: CAMRA - CAMRA - Campaign for Real Ale. 

WALES 

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

The Cross-Party Group held a meeting on 4 May looking into the Scottish Deposit Return scheme and how the Welsh government can learn lessons from it as it draws up its own plans. Wales regional director Chris Charter attended from CAMRA. 

A brewery visit for MSs is being arranged later this summer. 

 

As always, if any CAMRA member wants campaigning advice, or has questions about what we are 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.