Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Hospitality Sector: Business Confidence

Thursday 12 March 2026 · 2 questions

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

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

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Questions & Answers

Q1 John Lamont Con Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Context

The hospitality sector faces real and sustained pressures, as evidenced by recent trends in business confidence levels.

Question

What assessment has the Department made of recent trends in levels of business confidence in the hospitality sector?

Answer from Kate Dearden

The Government closely monitor business confidence across the hospitality sector and recognise that businesses face real and sustained pressures. That is why we have announced targeted support measures to help the sector remain resilient. These measures include permanently lower business rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties, a significant increase to the hospitality support fund, and action to reduce regulatory burdens through licensing reform for a new national licensing policy framework to provide greater flexibility for pubs and hospitality venues.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide a specific assessment of recent trends in business confidence levels.

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Q2 John Lamont Con Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Context

Hospitality businesses in the Scottish borders are facing challenges due to rising energy costs, wage and supply bills.

Question

Hospitality businesses in the Scottish borders are being squeezed by rising energy costs and wage and supply bills. Does the Minister think that this Labour Government's jobs tax has helped or hindered the hospitality sector?

Answer from Kate Dearden

Business confidence depends on economic stability, and that is exactly what this Government are delivering: a stable economy where businesses can invest in growth. The hon. Member will have heard my commitment to the hospitality sector—both my personal investment and my absolute determination to work closely with the sector so that we can build stronger local economies with stronger high streets and thriving businesses. Businesses will see that stronger demand, especially when working people have more money to spend, and we are focused on building that stability for our local communities and for businesses to benefit too.

Not addressed: The question specifically asked about the impact of the jobs tax, but the answer did not address this directly.

How: Changing The Subject To General Economic Stability

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