Tourism: Overnight Visitor Levy

Lord Houchen of High Leven Excerpts

Thursday 17th September 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

My noble friend raises a point on a similar theme. From my experience of working with the business rates retention pilot back in the day, I know that the most important thing is that we get the right partners around the table in those localities. The businesses and enterprises that my noble friend refers to need to have a voice around that table. It is critical that events and opportunities that attract more visitors have full representation and encourage investment that will make visitors feel welcome, looked after, safe and all those things that matter on a wider perspective.

[Lord Houchen of High Leven (Con)]

My Lords, I declare an interest as one of the mayors who is going to receive the power to implement the overnight levy. Let me put on record and be extremely clear that, for as long as I continue to be Mayor of the Tees Valley, there will be no overnight levy implemented within my region, specifically because it has a significant impact on relatively socioeconomically poor families who decide to holiday within the UK. It is an additional tax on holidays, but it is also a tax on business. We have contractors, white van men and businesses who rely on overnight stays up and down this country. It is an additional tax on business. Devolution seems to be a one-way street with this Administration. Devolution means an ability to increase taxes. Can the Minister tell me where we might be able to see devolution of the ability to decrease taxes?