§ Mr. LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on Government policy towards ending short beer measures. [57375]
§ Miss Melanie Johnson[holding answer 22 May 2002]Under existing case law, trading standards departments have difficulty in securing convictions for short measure beer unless the quantity of liquid served is 635W less than 90 per cent after the collapse of the head of froth. On 18 March the Department published a consultation paper inviting comments on the proposal that measures should comprise not less than 95 per cent liquid after the collapse of the head of froth.
§ Mr. LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact on the brewing trade's revenue of proposals to allow public houses and other establishments to serve a pint at 95 per cent. of volume. [57374]
§ Miss Melanie Johnson[holding answer 22 May 2002]The Department estimates that in order to serve measures containing not less than 95 per cent liquid, licensees would have to buy extra beer from brewers at a total cost of about £38 million at wholesale prices.
§ Mr. LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from consumer groups about proposals to allow public houses and other establishments to serve a pint at 95 per cent of volume. [57373]
§ Miss Melanie Johnson[holding answer 22 May 2002]The consultation period runs until 1 July. To date, I have received a representation from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).