Every parliamentary written question tabled by Rupert Lowe this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 381–400 of 2,378 · this parliament
What contracts her Department currently holds with (i) ClearVoice and (ii) other interpretation providers for asylum and migration services.
The Home Office does not hold any contract with ClearVoice.The Home Office has a contract above threshold with ‘thebigword’ Group Limited.
What is the total annual cost of interpretation and translation services for asylum seekers in each of the last three years.
The information requested is not centrally held and could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
What was the cost to the public purse of translation and interpretation services by her Department for asylum seekers in Great Yarmouth constituency in each of the last five years.
The information requested is not centrally held and could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to employer National Insurance contributions on labour-intensive hospitality businesses.
A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.The Government protected the smallest hospitality businesses from recent changes to employer National Insurance by increasing the Employment Allowance to £10,500.We are determined to support hospitality businesses and help them succeed. The National Licensing Policy Framework for England and Wales set a new strategic direction for licensing authorities to have more regard for growth. We are exploring planning reforms to help pubs and hospitality expand and will appoint a Retail and Hospitality Envoy in the coming weeks to champion the sector. Furthermore, the Hospitality Support Fund has helped pubs in rural areas to diversify, ensuring they can continue in their role as vital community hubs. We have also introduced a new Community Right to Buy, the English Devolution Bill will ban upward only rent reviews, and the Pride in Place programme will provide up to £5bn over 10 years to support our high streets.
What assessment she has made of the potential cumulative impact of business rates, VAT, alcohol duty and employer National Insurance contributions on levels of profitability in the hospitality sector.
The Government has assessed the cumulative impacts of measures announced over recent Budgets on businesses and households. Taken together, these measures raise revenue to support the public finances in a fair way, whilst providing targeted support. The Government recognises that recent policy changes will have combined effects on some businesses. Where changes are made, relevant assessments and impact notes are published to inform stakeholders. The Treasury continues to engage with affected sectors to understand the challenges they face and to ensure the UK remains a competitive place to do business. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and keep our policy approach under review, with future tax decisions taken at fiscal events under the normal process.
Whether she has considered introducing a reduced or tiered VAT rate for pubs and restaurants.
The Government recognises the significant contribution made by hospitality businesses to economic growth and social life in the UK. VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Introducing reduced or tiered VAT rates would reduce tax revenue and add complexity to the tax system. HMRC estimate that the cost of a 5 per cent reduced rate for accommodation, hospitality and tourist attractions would be around £13 billion this financial year. If the scope were also to include alcoholic beverages, the cost would be approximately £3 billion greater. This would reduce VAT revenue, which pays for public services, by almost 10% in 2025/26. The Government is aware that some European countries apply reduced VAT rates to hospitality.
Whether she has considered reinstating higher levels of business rates relief for pubs and hospitality venues.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to UIN 101363.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of business rates liabilities on trends in levels of pub closures since 2010.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to UIN 101363.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to help support pubs in sourcing and promoting British-produced food and drink.
The food strategy recognises the key role that regional and local food systems can play in supporting delivery of the growth, health, sustainability, and food security/ resilience outcomes. Defra wants to create an environment that champions UK food cultures and celebrates British food. The strategy is an opportunity to celebrate the food we make which is uniquely British, combining our heritage and the expertise and innovation of our food businesses. Connecting local communities can be a key vehicle for achieving this outcome and for harnessing a stronger food culture.
Whether her Department has produced on modelling on the potential effect of the April 2026 business rates revaluation on small, independent pubs.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to UIN 101363.
What comparative assessment she has made of the potential impact of the level of VAT on the hospitality sector in (a) the UK and (b) comparable European countries.
The Government recognises the significant contribution made by hospitality businesses to economic growth and social life in the UK. VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Introducing reduced or tiered VAT rates would reduce tax revenue and add complexity to the tax system. HMRC estimate that the cost of a 5 per cent reduced rate for accommodation, hospitality and tourist attractions would be around £13 billion this financial year. If the scope were also to include alcoholic beverages, the cost would be approximately £3 billion greater. This would reduce VAT revenue, which pays for public services, by almost 10% in 2025/26. The Government is aware that some European countries apply reduced VAT rates to hospitality.
What assessment has been made of the role of pubs in supporting local economies and employment, particularly in rural areas.
We recognise the significant contribution hospitality businesses, including pubs, make in driving economic growth and providing jobs, especially in rural and coastal communities. No formal assessment has been made of the role pubs play in supporting local economies and employment, particularly in rural areas. In 2024, the hospitality sector contributed £51.3 billion to the UK economy, representing around 2% of total output and supporting 2 million jobs, or 6.1% of total UK employment.
What steps are being taken to help reduce levels of closures of community pubs and high-street hospitality venues.
The Government recognises the vital role community pubs and high-street hospitality venues play in local economies and social life; we also recognise the pressures they face.The Government has permanently lowered business rates multipliers for eligible Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties and have introduced a £4.3 billion support package over the next three years to protect ratepayers from increases following the business rates revaluation. Additionally, through the English Devolution Bill, we have introduced a strong new ‘right to buy’ to help communities safeguard valued community assets, empowering local communities to reclaim and revitalise empty shops, pubs, and community spaces, helping to revamp our high streets and eliminate the blight of vacant premisesWe will continue work closely with the sector, including through the Hospitality Sector Council to improve the productivity and resilience of hospitality businesses by co-creating solutions to the issues impacting business performance.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of energy costs on the profitability of pubs and hospitality venues.
Tackling affordability is the Government’s number one priority and we recognise the challenges businesses, such as pubs and hospitality venues, face in securing appropriate, fair and competitively priced energy contracts. The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers – including businesses – permanently. Beyond this, the Government and Ofgem are taking decisive action to inform and protect non-domestic energy consumers as well as improving access to redress when issues occur. Many businesses engage with the energy market through energy brokers and other third-party intermediaries. Government recently announced plans to appoint Ofgem to regulate intermediaries, when Parliamentary time allows.
Whether she has considered raising the employer National Insurance threshold for hospitality businesses.
At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government increased the Employment Allowance for National Insurance contributions (NICs) from £5,000 to £10,500. Furthermore, businesses can claim employer NICs reliefs for employees under-21s and under-25 apprentices on earnings up to £50,270. There are a wide range of factors to take into consideration when introducing or expanding a tax relief. These include how effective the relief would be at achieving the policy intent, how targeted support would be, whether it adds complexity to the tax system, and the cost.
Whether she has considered freezing or reforming alcohol duty on draught products sold in pubs.
At Budget 2025 the Chancellor announced that alcohol duty would be kept constant in real terms by uprating it in line with by Retail Price Index (RPI) on 1 February 2026. This decision balances the important contribution of alcohol producers and the hospitality sector to the UK’s culture and economy, with the duty’s role in reducing alcohol harm.An assessment of the impacts of this Budget decision is published within the Tax Impact and Information Note (TIIN) here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alcohol-duty-rates-change/alcohol-duty-uprating#summary-of-impactsThis Government is proud to have been able to expand the generosity of Draught Relief, which enables products served on draught below 8.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) to pay less duty. The Chancellor’s draught rate cut at Autumn Budget 2024 applied to approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. This took a penny of duty off a typical strength pint at a cost to the Exchequer of over £85m a year, providing vital support to pubs and other venues, and helping other producers that supply eligible products.
What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of licensing laws for supporting rural and community pubs.
Hospitality businesses are vital to our communities, both in town centres and in rural areas. As well as providing local jobs and supporting local supply chains, they help create places where people want to live, work, visit and invest.No assessment has been made specifically of the link between licensing laws and supporting rural and community pubs, however a wider reform programme is underway following the report of a Licensing Taskforce and consultation with stakeholders over the past year. The Government aims to support all hospitality businesses, by developing reforms which lead to a more responsive and enabling licensing system for hospitality and leisure businesses that also protects and safeguards communities.As part of the licensing reforms programme a Call for Evidence closed in November with over 2,000 responses to a range of questions about changes that could be made to the licensing regime. Following that we published a new National Licensing Policy Framework (NLPF) for the hospitality sector, which set how the Licensing Act should be applied to support the growth of hospitality businesses and highlights examples of good practice.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of pub closures on community cohesion.
We recognise that pubs are an important part of the social fabric of the UK, places that are focal points of many communities, where people from different backgrounds can mix and generate a sense of belonging. That is why we are introducing Community Right to Buy so people can protect pubs that mean so much to their communities. We are also taking steps to support the viability of pubs, such as introducing legislation to ban upwards only rent reviews in commercial leases, reforming licensing rules, and committing funding to support rural pubs to diversify their services.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of alcohol duty levels on the financial sustainability of community pubs.
At Budget 2025 the Chancellor announced that alcohol duty would be kept constant in real terms by uprating it in line with by Retail Price Index (RPI) on 1 February 2026. This decision balances the important contribution of alcohol producers and the hospitality sector to the UK’s culture and economy, with the duty’s role in reducing alcohol harm.An assessment of the impacts of this Budget decision is published within the Tax Impact and Information Note (TIIN) here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alcohol-duty-rates-change/alcohol-duty-uprating#summary-of-impactsThis Government is proud to have been able to expand the generosity of Draught Relief, which enables products served on draught below 8.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) to pay less duty. The Chancellor’s draught rate cut at Autumn Budget 2024 applied to approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. This took a penny of duty off a typical strength pint at a cost to the Exchequer of over £85m a year, providing vital support to pubs and other venues, and helping other producers that supply eligible products.
What assessment has been made of the effectiveness of hospitality apprenticeship schemes in tackling labour shortages in the pub sector.
Apprenticeships are one of the ways in which employers in the hospitality sector can fill skills gaps and address labour shortages. Employers in the sector have developed a number of apprenticeships including the Level 2 Food and Beverage Team Member, Level 3 Hospitality Supervisor, and Level 4 Hospitality Manager. Published data on apprenticeships, including within the hospitality sector, can be found at: Apprenticeships, Academic year 2024/25 - Explore education statistics - GOV.UK. To support our ambition of 50,000 more young people undertaking apprenticeships and foundation apprenticeships, we will expand foundation apprenticeships into sectors where young people are traditionally recruited, exploring occupations such as hospitality and retail. Additionally, to support SMEs to access apprenticeships, the government will fully fund apprenticeship training for non-levy paying employers (essentially SMEs) for all eligible people aged under 25 from the next academic year. Smaller employers in all sectors will benefit from this change. The department and Skills England engage regularly with the hospitality sector, including industry bodies such as UK Hospitality, regarding training for the sector and the government’s plans for skills. The government has also supported other sector-based initiatives such as the development of a Hospitality Skills Passport and hospitality Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs).