Safeguarding the small brewers relief scheme

That this House notes the positive impact that the small brewers relief scheme has had on the survival and growth of the UK’s small independent breweries; notes that this could be undermined by the Treasury’s proposed changes to the scheme to reduce the 50 per cent rate from 5,000hl to 2,100hl and to put it on a cash basis; further notes that this is threatening small breweries at a time when they are struggling through the covid-19 crisis and they have not received the same level of support as the wider hospitality sector including the business rates holiday; and calls on the Government not to change the small brewers relief scheme or to introduce the cash basis but to instead initiate support for small brewers in line with the wider hospitality sector.