A cross party group of MPs, including former Pubs Minister Andrew Percy, are today calling on the Chancellor to reconsider changes to a scheme which has transformed the small brewing sector in the UK. In a letter signed by 103 MPs, they argue that altering Small Breweries' Relief (SBR) will put a great British success story under threat at a time when many businesses are struggling to survive. SBR has provided the basis for growth and innovation in the brewing sector and means there is a small brewery in nearly every constituency, employing 6,000 full time jobs and contributing ₤270 million to GDP each year.

The letter has been signed by Members of Parliament from across the political divide; including a significant number of Conservative MPs who see local brewers as key parts of their local communities and crucial to the levelling up agenda. 15 MPs went to the House of Commons in November to speak in a debate on the subject, while more than 50,000 people from across the UK have signed a petition calling for the Government to reverse the decision.

Former Pubs Minister Andrew Percy MP, who organised the letter, said:- "Small breweries have been at the heart of the craft beer revolution and exist in every part of the UK. They're often led by entrepreneurial young people, whose innovations in brewing are helping expand choice for the increasingly discerning British drinker. Small Breweries' Relief is key to the success of our small breweries that are leading innovation, creating jobs in our communities and helping to bring people together. The brewing sector has been hurt badly by Covid and needs Treasury support to thrive. Now is not the time for the Government to turn its back on our small breweries by introducing potentially damaging changes to SBR."

Under the current system, small breweries pay a proportionate amount of tax on the small amount of beer they produce compared to the global companies that dominate the industry. Up to 5,000 hectolitres; which is about 900,000 pints; they pay 50% of beer duty to the Treasury. Plans announced by the Treasury in July will see the 50% threshold reduced from 5,000 hl to 2,100hl; meaning that over 150 small breweries will have to pay more tax. At the same time, those larger in size will pay the same amount of tax or less. The Treasury also proposes converting the relief to a 'cash basis' which could see support for all brewers receiving SBR being eroded away.

Chief Executive of the Society of Independent Brewers, James Calder said:- "SBR has been a great success, revolutionising brewing in the UK and allowing more brewers to start up and compete against the global companies that dominate beer in our country. The Chancellor is forcing destructive changes on small breweries, which we have not asked for and do not support. The Treasury needs to urgently reverse course, not reduce the 50% threshold below 5,000hl and give the industry something to cheer about."

This letter comes as the Treasury announces plans to plough ahead with the changes and has launched a technical consultation to consider how to implement them. Small breweries have been amongst the hardest hit during the Covid crisis, losing 80% of their sales during the lockdowns when the pubs have closed without the same Government support package as the hospitality sector.

SEFTON Central MP Bill Esterson asked the Government to look at financial support for the:- "excluded" group of workers and businesses who have so far had no help during the pandemic.

Mr Esterson asked Business Secretary Alok Sharma:- "Many freelancers and self employed people have had little or no financial support. They don't qualify for furlough, for the self employed scheme or for business grants either. With billions of pounds being returned in tax relief for business rates by the major retailers, why aren't Minister using that money, as the retailers are suggesting, to support those hundreds of thousands of people who have had little or no financial support so far?"

Mr Esterson said:- "The response from the Minister was again inadequate. People don't want to know about the schemes they haven't been eligible for. As welcome as the furlough scheme has been, it doesn't help a freelancer to know that their neighbour's wages have been covered by the Government while their income has not. With billions of pounds unexpectedly being paid to the Government by retailers paying business rates they didn't have to, it's time for this excluded group to be helped."

IT is thought that ever since the Coronavirus evolved in animals to infecting humans, it has been changing at around 2 mutations a month, with the variant (G614) emerging to global dominance. That means since the start of the Pandemic, there have been around 25 mutations since the strain found in Wuhan in China. It is normal for a virus to alter itself as that is what the do, so scientists are watching the changes as at times, the small changes mean they can become better at infecting us or other times it doesn't make a difference, then again it can mean the virus just dies out by becoming less infectious. There is no clear cut evidence that the new variant of Coronavirus, which has been detected within South East of England, will render the new vaccines useless, or if it will be able to transmit more easily, or even cause more serious symptoms than with the current known variants. This one of the latest adaptations to be deletion, with the other in recent weeks, being H69/V70, that strain was found in infected mink. We are being told that it is far too early to make any inference on how important this new 'London Strain' is and scientists are keeping a close eye on it. It will take time for experiments in the laboratory to figure out if this variant really is a better spreader than all the others. But, the worry is that virus could have mutated to spread more easily and is already causing more infections, resulting in the current rise of infections in the UK. This rise in infections could fuel the Coronavirus' evolutionary path, making it change faster. If it does, it could drive the evolution of the virus up far quicker than expected and we may have to regularly update the vaccines, as we do for flu, to keep up. But for now, please sleep safe and just keep to the rules in your area. we should remember that Scientific theory suggests viruses may become weaker in order to survive, as killing or incapacitating too many human hosts will limit their capacity to spread.

SEFTON Council will have restricted services in place during Christmas and New Year as most Sefton Council staff are required to take unpaid leave as part of continuous cost saving measures. Like previous years, residents can still access a range of information and transactions via the Council website:- Sefton.Gov.UK. This includes:- checking bin collections, applying for:- licences, reporting environmental issues or paying Council Tax and business rates.

Because of the unpaid leave to be taken on 24 December, 29 December, 30 December and 31 December 2020, most Council buildings will be closed, contributing to significant savings as part of the budget setting process. Services that will continue to operate include:- critical social care services for adults and children, a limited street cleaning service, Registrars, domestic and commercial waste collections and urgent highways issues, including gritting.

Residents are also being encouraged to recycle as much waste as possible and use the Household Waste Recycling Centres across the borough. Similar to other years, the green wheelie bin collection for garden waste has now been suspended and will return in March 2021.

Some Sefton Council run leisure centres will be open at varying times during these dates and users are advised to check the Council's website:- Sefton.Gov.UK for opening times.

Cllr Ian Maher, Labour Leader of Sefton Council, said:- "The Christmas shutdown has been in operation for a number of years now and it contributes to the savings we have to make due significant reductions in Government funding. Over the course of the financial year, our hard working staff have their pay reduced in order to take four days unpaid leave. Other savings from the closure period come from the reduced need for:- heating, lighting and running buildings, equipment and vehicles, which all help contribute to the saving we need to make. While reduced services are being operated, we will still maintain key services for some of the most vulnerable residents in our communities. However, it is still clear to see that austerity is not over and the harsh Government cuts are still biting us with a noticeable impact on our residents."

To access a range of service and transactions online, visit:- Sefton.Gov.UK. An automated phone service will be in place which details helpful emergency points of contact on:- 03451400845 and most service requests will only be actioned beyond January.

If you require emergency Covid19 support, please call:- 03451400845 between 10am to 3pm, on 24 December, 29 December 30 December, 31 December 2020, 2 January 2021 and 3 January 2021.

Information regarding Covid test sites is available 24 hours a day at:- Sefton.Gov.UK.

If you are experiencing a crisis or severe financial hardship and need emergency support with food, gas or electricity you may be eligible for help. You must live in Sefton, be aged 16 or over and you will be required to provide a contact telephone number so that support can be arranged.

If you are eligible please call:- 0151 934 3663, between 10am until 12 noon, on 29 December and 30 December 2020. This is for emergencies only.

Normal service will resume, on Monday, 4 January 2021.

Do you know what restrictions are in each area in England...?

THIS week we have heard news that London is moving in to Tier 3, sending shockwaves out in the national media, but what are the differences between the tiers and what areas are currently in them? But please remember, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and the Channel Irelands have different rules to England.