Mike Hancock News
MP says Chancellor should give motorists a brake!
Mike Hancock, MP for Portsmouth South says that the Chancellor should consider giving more support for local pubs in this week's budget. And the MP also wants more help in the budget for drivers and the tourist industry which is vital for Portsmouth.
Mike is calling for George Osborne to scrap Labour's beer duty "escalator" which sees beer tax increase more than inflation. Newly released figures have shown that the beer and pub sector supports around 4,000 jobs in Portsmouth and £80 million of economic activity. Mike has written to the Chancellor putting the case to help pubs and has also backed a parliamentary motion on the issue.
Mike said: "I realise that public finances are in a poor state after the disastrous legacy of the Labour Government. But pubs have been hit harder than most sectors. Local pubs are a vital part of many communities. Many landlords have told me recently that they are suffering many problems - general inflation, increased beer taxes and greater competition from supermarkets. Now is time for the Government to back our local pubs. I hope that the Chancellor will do just that in this week's budget."
Mike is also calling for help for motorists. He said: "The Chancellor has hinted that he may scrap the planned rise in fuel duty. Petrol and diesel prices have obviously rocketed in recent months due to increases on the world market. I hope that the Chancellor will now look to help motorists as he has indicated that he might and which I have been pressing him to do in recent months."
Another sector, Mike wants to help is the tourist and visitor industry. Many European countries have lower VAT on hotels and other tourist and visitor attractions. Following the Prime Minister's speech on tourism in the autumn, Mike wrote to him urging him to look at reducing VAT in this area. Most European Governments have a reduced rate of VAT on these items.
Mike said: "Tourism generates £500 million for Portsmouth's economy every year and supports 10,000 jobs. A report for British Association of Leisure Parks and Piers and Attractions (BALPPA) said that reducing VAT would boost business and mean that the Government would actually gain £700 million in extra revenue and it would create 26,000 extra jobs. So, this is one tax cut that even the Chancellor should approve of, as cutting VAT on tourist attractions and hotels would increase the Government's tax take overall due to increased business."
He added: "Financial terms are tough following the Labour Government which was spending £150 billion more a year than they were getting in tax and revenues. However by looking to help pubs and the tourist industry - the Chancellor can help support vital jobs here in Portsmouth and also increase his tax take in future. Equally motorists have been hit hard recently so I hope he can help them as well. In recent months I have been pressing the Chancellor to take action in these areas. I hope that he will listen."
Share this page:
