Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Hospitality Sector

Thursday 12 March 2026 · 7 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government have significantly increased the hospitality support fund, providing 10 million over three years to help hospitality businesses become more resilient.
  • The Government are working closely with businesses and across the sector to tackle the root cause of unstable energy markets by having more power here in Britain.
  • The Government provide full training costs for young apprentices aged 16 to 21, and employers are not required to pay national insurance contributions for all apprentices under the age of 25.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jerome Mayhew Con Broadland and Fakenham
Business & Trade
Context

The hospitality sector is facing significant challenges and the MP is concerned about the steps the government is taking to support it.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to support the hospitality sector?

Answer from Kate Dearden

The Government have significantly increased the hospitality support fund, providing £10 million over three years to help hospitality businesses become more resilient. We have permanently reduced business rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties, benefiting 750,000 properties. We are also beginning cross-Government work on a high streets strategy, developed with businesses and representatives, to be published later this year.

Answered
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Q2 David Mundell Con Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale
Energy Business & Trade
Context

Energy costs are a significant issue for hospitality businesses and their customers, especially in rural areas.

Question

Will the Minister and her colleagues in the Department lobby the Prime Minister and the Chancellor to ensure that the proposed rise in fuel duty does not go ahead in September?

Answer from Kate Dearden

I recognise that energy costs remain one of the biggest pressures facing hospitality businesses. The Government are prioritising on having more of our own power here in Britain to tackle the root cause of unstable energy markets. We are working closely with businesses, and across the sector, to understand the pressures, and we will continue to do so in a responsible way.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific lobbying action to prevent fuel duty rise

How: Will Continue To Do So In A Responsible Way

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Q3 Gavin Williamson Con Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge
Employment
Context

Youth unemployment is currently at 15% and the hospitality sector plays a key role in providing jobs for young people.

Question

What action is the Minister taking to reverse the trend of rising youth unemployment in the hospitality sector?

Answer from Kate Dearden

Our focus is on skills and training, and getting young people into work. We provide full training costs for young apprentices aged 16 to 21, and employers are not required to pay national insurance contributions for all apprentices under the age of 25. We are looking to our £820 million youth guarantee and so much more to provide employment support and to give them a guaranteed job.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific action to reverse rising youth unemployment

How: Under The Previous Government, The Number Of Youth Apprenticeships Was Cut By 40%

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Q4 Jerome Mayhew Con Broadland and Fakenham
Economy Employment Business & Trade
Context

Six hospitality venues are closing every day due to national insurance tax rises and additional costs of the Employment Rights Act 2025.

Question

When are the Government finally going to realise that those job losses and business closures are not happening despite the work of the Government, they are happening because of it?

Answer from Kate Dearden

This Government are restoring stability and rebuilding opportunity for people. Hospitality thrives when the economy grows, wages rise, and people have more money to spend. We are reforming the broken system of business rates and building a better support system for businesses, so they can thrive and support all employment, particularly for our young people.

Not addressed: specific realisation of the impact of their policies

How: Restoring Stability And Rebuilding Opportunity For People

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Q5 Sarah Coombes Lab West Bromwich
Transport Energy
Context

There are arcane rules preventing EV signage on motorways, making it difficult for EV drivers to find charging and hospitality facilities.

Question

Will the Minister work with the Department for Transport to change these mad signage rules and support hospitality and EV charging?

Answer from Kate Dearden

We are working with local authorities to make it easier to provide signage to charging facilities on local roads. In a move to help EV drivers to plug in to the rapidly expanding charging network, the Government are also modernising EV charging signage on major A roads, allowing larger EV charging hubs to be signposted from major A roads.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific action to change signage rules

How: Working With Local Authorities To Make It Easier To Provide Signage

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Q6 Julie Minns Lab Carlisle
Business & Trade
Context

The Society of Independent Brewers supports the guest beer agreement in Scotland, which has been in place for almost a year and has reportedly driven customers into pubs.

Question

Given that the Society of Independent Brewers believes that a right to buy a guest beer drives customers into pubs, can the Minister update the House on when she expects to announce the results of the beer market review and the merits of introducing a guest beer agreement in England?

Answer from Kate Dearden

We have reviewed the beer market to assess any barriers facing small breweries and will announce the outcome in due course.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific timeline and merits of introducing a guest beer agreement in England

How: Remain Committed, Due Course

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Q7 Sarah Olney Lib Dem Richmond Park
Economy Energy Business & Trade
Context

The Q4 2025 quarterly economic survey reported that 52% of businesses cited utility costs as a pressure driving them to raise prices, and recent research shows that more than a quarter of businesses will struggle to pay their energy bills over the next year.

Question

In the Q4 2025 quarterly economic survey, 52% of businesses reported utility costs as a pressure that is driving them to raise prices, and there is a particular impact on the hospitality sector. Recent research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than a quarter of businesses will struggle to pay their energy bills over the next 12 months, and this survey was conducted before the recent escalation in the middle east. Last week's forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility also did not take into account any potential impact from the jump in oil prices triggered by the strikes in Iran. The fuel duty hike in September is already expected to hit families and small businesses hard, so will the Secretary of State speak to the Chancellor now about scrapping this damaging policy?

Answer from Kate Dearden

The hon. Lady will have heard in my earlier remarks that I absolutely recognise those pressures and meet hospitality businesses regularly to hear their concerns; energy costs have, of course, come up as one of the biggest pressures facing them. I recognise the concerns those businesses will have when looking at the Gulf conflict and its possible impacts. As the hon. Lady will have heard in my earlier answer, the real risk to businesses is dependence on the volatile international gas markets, which has left us exposed. She will know the work that we are doing in different Departments to recognise that and to tackle that root cause in order to provide better support for businesses. We are looking at the unstable energy markets that have left us exposed and trying to ensure that we have more power here in Britain; we will work with the sector closely and across Government on that.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment to scrap the fuel duty hike

How: Work Closely, Different Departments

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