Paul Scully, Tory MP for Sutton and Cheam and chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on the curry catering industry, claimed the sector was ‘struggling’, partly due to the current immigration policy.
The Evening Standard reports that Scully told a Commons debate on immigration: “Leaving the EU would give us more flexibility to control our borders and tackle some of the unintended consequences of immigration from outside the EU. Things such as the curry industry - bringing curry chefs over - might benefit.”
Anne Main MP supported the call and added that the Chinese food industry could also benefit from a ‘Brexit’ - a British exit from the EU.
Some would prefer to see an investment in training within the UK. Steve McCabe, Labour MP, said: “If we cannot train people as balti chefs and curry chefs in this day and age, there is something badly wrong with our skills training in this country.”
The price of a pint of beer could rise if a Brexit happened, with drinkers paying up to £5 more a month, according to campaign group Britain Stronger in Europe.
The group claims that because of free trading across Europe, the UK enjoys cheaper goods and services, but if the UK left the EU the price of importing alcoholic drinks could jump up 3%.
Lucy Thomas of Britain Stronger in Europe, told the Evening Standard: “If we left Europe then UK pubs may have to pay a higher tariff to buy in beer from France, Belgium or Germany. Let’s make sure we avoid that hangover.”
However, Scully dismissed the campaign group’s claim. He said: “I don’t see us losing access to the single market because European brewers will still want to export their beers. Competition would keep prices low and restaurants and pubs could knock off the cost of EU red tape, which would be something to celebrate.”
Prime Minister David Cameron is currently negotiating a deal with the EU to tweak its membership, ahead of an in/out referendum scheduled for 2017.