The regular series returns to What’s Brewing with the Campaigns and Communications team’s latest campaigning for pubs, pints and people across Westminster, devolved parliaments and local government.
Westminster
Cask beer parliamentary debate
In April, Baggy Shanker MP secured a parliamentary debate on cask beer to explore its importance, get Intangible Cultural Heritage protections under UNESCO and prevent misleading dispense methods, like Carlsberg’s kegged Fresh Ale served through traditional cask handpulls.
Once the Backbench Business Committee in the House of Commons has been reconstituted following the King’s Speech, debate times will be allocated.
Upward-only rent reviews in England
The government committed to ending upward-only rent reviews for commercial premises as part of the English and Devolution Community Empowerment Act, published in April.
While a ban is not in force, the government launched a consultation on how it should be implemented.
CAMRA will make a submission on how the ban will affect pub tenants.
A second consultation on commercial leasehold law will be launched by the Law Commission after its previous consultation, which CAMRA submitted to, on the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.
Scottish government and parliament
Elections
After the Scottish elections in May, the team has sent letters to ministers in the Scottish government responsible for beer and pub issues like business rates, planning policy and the advertising and sponsorship of alcohol.
The team is working with the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) and the Westminster Beer Group to re-establish the Scottish Parliament’s Cross-Party Group on Beer and Pubs.
Welsh parliament / senedd Cymru
Elections
After the Senedd Cymru/Welsh parliament elections in May, the team has sent letters to ministers in the government responsible for beer and pub issues like business rates and planning policy.
CAMRA is working with SIBA and the Westminster Beer Group to re-establish the Senedd Cross-Party Group on Beer and Pubs.
Northern Ireland assembly and executive
Licensing
After the NI communities minister rejected most of the University of Stirling’s report recommendations to reform NI’s outdated licensing laws, including the surrender principle, nighttime charity Free the Night took legal action.
The Department for Communities is still to respond, but the minister launched a consultation on expanding category numbers of alcohol licences so “cultural venues” can apply for a licence.
The team is drafting a response to argue that tinkering with categories of licences is not what is needed to modernise the existing outdated system.
