Written questions by Savage.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Act 2025 on employment opportunities for young people in the hospitality sector; and how he plans to ensure that restrictions on zero-hours contracts and flexible working do not lead to reduced staffing levels and fewer entry-level roles in pubs and similar businesses.

The Government published a comprehensive assessment that shows young workers, typically disproportionately represented in low-paid, low quality and insecure jobs will be amongst the largest beneficiaries of the Act.We are changing legislation through the Act to make it more likely that flexible working requests are accepted where they are reasonable and feasible.The Act does not prevent employers from hiring workers on zero hours contracts and workers will be able to remain on them if it suits their needs. We are committed to consulting fully with stakeholders, including within the hospitality sector, to determine the next level of policy detail, to be set in regulations.

What steps he is taking to support small pub landlords.

We regularly meet with pub landlords and only last week we held a roundtable with the British Institute for Innkeeping and some of their members. We are taking decisive action to support pubs and recently announced an additional 15% cut for pubs on top of the permanent reduction in the business rates multiplier for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties announced at the budget. We are also providing £4.3 billion over three years to protect ratepayers from sharp rises in rateable values as well as launching a review of how pubs and hotels are valued for business rates. Alongside this, we have doubled the Hospitality Support Fund to £10 million and will bring forward a new High Streets Strategy later this year to help reinvigorate our communities.

Whether he plans to meet small pub landlords to discuss potential closures and job losses within the hospitality sector.

We regularly meet with pub landlords and only last week we held a roundtable with the British Institute for Innkeeping and some of their members. We are taking decisive action to support pubs and recently announced an additional 15% cut for pubs on top of the permanent reduction in the business rates multiplier for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties announced at the budget. We are also providing £4.3 billion over three years to protect ratepayers from sharp rises in rateable values as well as launching a review of how pubs and hotels are valued for business rates. Alongside this, we have doubled the Hospitality Support Fund to £10 million and will bring forward a new High Streets Strategy later this year to help reinvigorate our communities.

If he will bring forward legislative proposals to strengthen protections against (a) workplace exploitation, (b) excessive working hours and (c) zero-hour contracts for care sector staff.

The Government is committed to ending exploitative zero hours contracts through the landmark Employment Rights Bill.The Bill also introduces a framework for a fair pay agreement in social care, to bring together workers and providers to negotiate pay and terms and conditions.All workers, including those in the care sector, have protections under the Working Time Regulations, which set the maximum working hours and minimum rest breaks workers are entitled to.

What steps his Department is taking to help high street retailers compete with online businesses.

We intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, including those on the high street, from 2026-27.The Plan for Small Businesses sets out how government will work across departments to tackle high street decline, address retail crime and anti-social behaviour, provide targeted funding to places, update our licensing regime and promote greater partnership working on the high street. SMEs on the high street will also benefit from the new tools to unlock access to finance, action to address late payments and regulatory costs, improve digital adoption and create easier pathways to business support through the Business Growth Service.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of decreases in levels of high street retail on levels of local employment.

The department recognises the challenges facing high streets and their impact on local employment. Our Plan for Small Businesses sets out how government will work across departments to tackle high street decline, address retail crime and anti-social behaviour, provide targeted funding to places, update our licensing regime and promote greater partnership working on the high street. SMEs on the high street will also benefit from the new tools to unlock access to finance, action to address late payments and regulatory costs, improve digital adoption and create easier pathways to business support through the Business Growth Service. More broadly, the government recognises the need to protect the smallest businesses, which is why we have more than doubled the Employment Allowance to £10,500. This means that 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all, more than half of employers see no change or gain overall from this package and employers will be able to employ up to four full-time workers on the National Living Wage and pay no employer NICs.

What steps his Department is taking to help tackle potential barriers to trade for UK consultancy businesses operating in the EU; what assessment he has made of the potential impact of differing requirements for work permits in individual EU countries on those businesses; and what steps he plans to take with Cabinet colleague to help improve the (a) competitiveness of those businesses in and (b) access of those businesses to the EU market.

To grow the economy and boost living standards, we need to build export and investment opportunities for UK businesses, including consultancy firms, and reduce barriers to trade with the EU.The Government recognises the importance of mobility for UK businesses, and regularly engages other EU Member States to address any bilateral mobility issues and to ensure the visa information they provide is clear. To help businesses navigate the visa and work permit rules of EU Member States, the Government has also published guidance on GOV.UK on entry requirements, as well as for Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of (a) leaving the EU single market and (b) ending free movement with the EU on economic growth; and if he will make an assessment

We are resetting the relationship with our European friends to strengthen ties and tackle barriers to trade. But we’ve been clear that there will be no return to the single market. Hearing from businesses about how they have been impacted by Brexit and ho...

What recent assessment he has made of the impact of the UK's departure from the EU single market on the (a) administrative and (b) other costs faced by UK small businesses trading with EU customers; an

The Department for Business and Trade continuously monitors the impact of leaving the EU on costs to businesses through our business surveys, ONS reports, and other intelligence sources, as well as through regular direct engagement with exporters - Minist...