1 March 2010
By Jenni Hollis
Last week, a number of MPs took part in a
parliamentary debate regarding the issues currently facing British pubs. The debate was introduced by the vice-chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on beer and CAMRA member, Nigel Evans MP.
The debate comes at a time where CAMRA is pushing to promote
their charter to protect real pubs, real ale and consumer rights, and continues working on
their super complaint to the OFT.
During the debate, Gerry Sutcliffe MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, brought CAMRA's super complaint to the OFT into consideration. Mr Evans responded, saying he was ‘delighted' with the OFT's decision to look again at CAMRA's complaint. Mr Sutcliffe furthered the discussion, and commented that he thought ‘the route that the Campaign for Real Ale has taken is the right one,' and that ‘The fact that the Office of Fair Trading is considering what CAMRA said is a step in the right direction.'
Several of CAMRA's other key concerns were among the issues discussed during the debate; Nigel Evans MP also made specific reference to the proposals to end the escalator duty on beer and to consider differential taxation on pump-pulled beer. References were also made to the importance of community pubs for the local and national economy, and general job market.