ALL three Bolton MPs are pressing the government to take measures in the autumn budget to combat the decline of community pubs.

Bolton North East MP David Crausby has written to the Chancellor asking him to cut Beer Duty and reduce the burden on community pubs in the upcoming budget.

In the letter, Sir David highlighted that pubs provide employment for over 900,000 people and contribute £23 billion to the economy.

He said: “Cutting beer duty instead of raising it as planned could pay for itself by keeping pubs open and protecting jobs.”

Beer duty is charged on any product labelled as a beer with an alcohol content over 1.2 per cent and is dependent on the strength of the beer.

The government says that about 54p of the price of a 5.0 per cent pint would be beer duty.

Last autumn, the Chancellor froze duties on beer, wines and spirits but said that he wanted to cut consumption of high-volume, low cost alcohol and would change the law to increase tax on them.

Bolton West MP Chris Green defended the government’s record on protecting pubs by taking measures such as freezing beer duty and giving a £1,000 discount on business rates to pubs.

Ahead of the upcoming budget, he said that he will be calling for the Chancellor to continue the freeze on beer duty for pubs.

Mr Green said: “There are lots of pressures facing pubs that we need to address, including supermarket alcohol being so cheap that it’s pricing our pubs out of the market.

“I’ll continue to work in Parliament, including as a member for the All Party Parliamentary Group on Beer, to be a strong champion for our pubs.”

Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi also supports a reduction in beer duty which she claims is one of the highest in the EU.

Ms Qureshi wrote to Greg Clark, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, asking for him to provide a support package for pubs.

She met with landlord and landlady of Jolly Carter in Little Lever to discuss her plans to lobby the government ahead of the budget in the hope that the government will take more action to aid pubs.

Last week, Sir David celebrated National Pub Fortnight by meeting the new publican at the Grey Mare Inn in Harwood.

National Pub Fortnight is a two week celebration run by Ei Publican Partnerships and Star Pubs and Bars which recognises the role that pubs play in the community.

A recent survey conducted by the two pub companies revealed that we would miss our local pub more than the park, the post office, the bank and the library if it were to close.

The pub was ranked as the third most important local amenity, only beaten by the corner shop and doctor's surgery.

However, according to the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), in the first six months of the year, a total of 61 pub closed in the North West.

Sir David said: “Loneliness is a growing problem across society and that will only get worse if we don’t have these spaces for people to socialise.

“I think it’s better for everyone to meet up and have a good time rather than having people binging at home on cheap drink from the supermarket.”

Sir David met the Grey Mare Inn’s the new publican Graeme Heaton and his mother in-law business partner Colette Yeardley to discuss the challenges facing pubs and the value they bring to the local area.

Mr Heaton said: “We work incredibly hard to provide a hub for the community and to run a successful and sustainable pub business.

“Pubs are an important part of British life and we want to give the people of Harwood a safe and family friendly space for everyone to feel welcome in at all times.

“As a publican, it is important for us to keep an eye on our margins and any assistance from the Government in reducing Beer Duty and Business Rates would help publicans all over the country immensely.”