Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency
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Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
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Local MP calls for more government support for Harveys brewery
Local Lib Dem MP, Norman Baker, has called on the government to provide more support for traditional, independent breweries like local Lewes brewery, Harveys, by asking them to amend the criteria governing Small Breweries' Relief.
The parliamentary question from the local MP follows his signature of Early Day Motion 1955 which also asks the Government to extend the relief which small breweries, those producing up to 60,000 hectolitres, are eligible for to all independent breweries producing up to 200,000 hectolitres. This move would bring Britain in line with other EU countries, most of which offer considerably more support to their independent breweries.
Local brewery, Harveys of Lewes, produces approximately 62,000-63,000 hectolitres of beer each year and produced a record 38,000 barrels of beer in 2005. This output means that Harveys lies just outside the category of small brewers currently eligible for relief.
Commenting on the EDM, Norman Baker says:
"It is disappointing that the government isn’t giving independent breweries in this country the same amount of support that independent breweries in other parts of the EU receive. The current system puts Harveys, our excellent local brewery, at an unfair disadvantage. Harveys is now too successful in terms of output to be eligible for the relief available to small breweries but isn’t big enough to compete with the large brewers who enjoy greater economies of scale.
"I hope that the government will now look to change the current system of relief to ensure that greater support is available for medium-sized, independent breweries who specialise in producing good quality, traditional, beer. It would be a great shame if this lack of assistance from the government were to damage the prospects of independent breweries and lead to a further reduction in the variety of real English ale available."