Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they explored the merits of VAT reform for the hospitality sector before introducing a visitor levy.

Answered by Lord Pitt-Watson - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

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. VAT is the UK’s third largest tax, forecast to raise £180 billion in 2025/26.

HMRC estimates that the cost of changing the 20 per cent Standard Rate of VAT on all accommodation and food and beverage services to the Reduced Rate of 5 per cent would be around £17 billion in 2026-27, rising to £19.5 billion in 2030-31.

Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for vital public services and must represent value for money for the taxpayer. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.

Visitor levies are common in Europe and the rest of the world. All other G7 countries already have some form of tourism or overnight accommodation levy in place. It will be for strategic authorities to decide whether a levy is the right choice for their region and how funds should be reinvested within their areas to drive growth.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what work they have completed on commissioning an assessment of the cumulative tax burden on hospitality businesses, and what impact adding an additional visitor levy will have on (1) consumer spending on the high street, (2) temporary job adverts, (3) openings and closures on the high street, and (4) sectoral investment.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government consulted nationally on the design and scope of the power, including the use of revenues, and published its response on 10 September. The Government has engaged with the tourism and hospitality sectors throughout the consultation process.

The decision whether to introduce a visitor levy will be for local leaders, and the impacts of any levy will depend on local decisions. This is an important principle for devolution and democratic accountability. Where a Mayor chooses to take forward a levy, they will need to consult on specific proposals, including how any revenue should be invested, and consider the impacts for their area. Following consultation, we expect Mayors to publish a summary of consultation responses, a final prospectus and an impact assessment.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recommendations of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Hospitality and Tourism report, Inquiry into the proposed introduction of a visitor levy on overnight accommodation in England, published on 30 July; and what steps, if any, they intend to take in response.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government consulted nationally on the design and scope of the power, including the use of revenues, and published its response on 10 September. The Government has engaged with the tourism and hospitality sectors throughout the consultation process.

The decision whether to introduce a visitor levy will be for local leaders, and the impacts of any levy will depend on local decisions. This is an important principle for devolution and democratic accountability. Where a Mayor chooses to take forward a levy, they will need to consult on specific proposals, including how any revenue should be invested, and consider the impacts for their area. Following consultation, we expect Mayors to publish a summary of consultation responses, a final prospectus and an impact assessment.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to implement the recommendation of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Hospitality and Tourism report Inquiry into the proposed introduction of a visitor levy on overnight accommodation in England, published on 30 July, of a consistent national framework for the visitor levy.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government consulted nationally on the design and scope of the power, including the use of revenues, and published its response on 10 September. The Government has engaged with the tourism and hospitality sectors throughout the consultation process.

The decision whether to introduce a visitor levy will be for local leaders, and the impacts of any levy will depend on local decisions. This is an important principle for devolution and democratic accountability. Where a Mayor chooses to take forward a levy, they will need to consult on specific proposals, including how any revenue should be invested, and consider the impacts for their area. Following consultation, we expect Mayors to publish a summary of consultation responses, a final prospectus and an impact assessment.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consultation and engagement they have had or intend to have with businesses and hospitality and tourism trade bodies (1) prior to the visitor levy consultation, (2) before the Government response to the consultation is released, and (3) before powers are granted to mayoral authorities to consult on levies.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government consulted nationally on the design and scope of the power, including the use of revenues, and published its response on 10 September. The Government has engaged with the tourism and hospitality sectors throughout the consultation process.

The decision whether to introduce a visitor levy will be for local leaders, and the impacts of any levy will depend on local decisions. This is an important principle for devolution and democratic accountability. Where a Mayor chooses to take forward a levy, they will need to consult on specific proposals, including how any revenue should be invested, and consider the impacts for their area. Following consultation, we expect Mayors to publish a summary of consultation responses, a final prospectus and an impact assessment.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have completed, or have plans to complete, a full regulatory impact assessment of the hospitality sector before the visitor levy is introduced, or before granting powers to mayors to consult on a levy; and whether they plan to publish any such assessment.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government consulted nationally on the design and scope of the power, including the use of revenues, and published its response on 10 September. The Government has engaged with the tourism and hospitality sectors throughout the consultation process.

The decision whether to introduce a visitor levy will be for local leaders, and the impacts of any levy will depend on local decisions. This is an important principle for devolution and democratic accountability. Where a Mayor chooses to take forward a levy, they will need to consult on specific proposals, including how any revenue should be invested, and consider the impacts for their area. Following consultation, we expect Mayors to publish a summary of consultation responses, a final prospectus and an impact assessment.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what research, if any, they have commissioned on the impact of ringfencing the potential visitor levy revenues on (1) jobs in hospitality and tourism sector, (2) high street spending, and (3) tourism and destination investment.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government consulted nationally on the design and scope of the power, including the use of revenues, and published its response on 10 September. The Government has engaged with the tourism and hospitality sectors throughout the consultation process.

The decision whether to introduce a visitor levy will be for local leaders, and the impacts of any levy will depend on local decisions. This is an important principle for devolution and democratic accountability. Where a Mayor chooses to take forward a levy, they will need to consult on specific proposals, including how any revenue should be invested, and consider the impacts for their area. Following consultation, we expect Mayors to publish a summary of consultation responses, a final prospectus and an impact assessment.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the need for key performance indicators and investment standards covering ADHD and neurodivergence within the health system.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The NHS Medium Term Planning Framework, published on 24 October 2025, requires integrated care boards and providers to optimise existing resources to reduce long waits for autism and ADHD assessments and improve the quality of assessments by implementing the relevant guidance in each area.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what impact the NHS Health Check has had on saving money in the long term, through identifying and treating illnesses before they require late-stage care.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

No assessment has been made.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what mechanisms are in place to monitor whether the NHS Health Check programme is delivering the long-term health, NHS, social care and economic benefits projected in their health economic modelling; and if no such monitoring is undertaken, why not.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The NHS Health Check programme was introduced in England in April 2009. It has been subject to a number of subsequent evaluations and reviews, the latest of which was published in 2021.

The programme currently engages over 1.3 million people each year and, through behavioural and clinical interventions, prevents approximately 500 heart attacks and strokes a year. The NHS Health Check also identifies over 333,000 cases of obesity, 340,000 cases of high blood pressure, and 900,000 cases of raised cholesterol each year.

We are refreshing the NHS Health Check’s Best Practice Guidance with practical examples and tips to help commissioners and providers to improve delivery and support uptake of the programme. We are also developing the NHS Health Check Online which will allow people to undertake their NHS Health Check at home, at a time and place convenient to them.

As announced in the recently published Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework, we have commissioned the National Institute for Health and Care Research to conduct an evidence review on the scope of the programme, which includes an update to the modelling assumptions used to estimate its impact.

The evidence review is expected to be completed by the second half of 2027, and we will consider the findings as appropriate to inform future policy development.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they still consider the estimate set out in their report Preventing illness and improving health for all: a review of the NHS Health Check programme and recommendations, published on 9 December 2021, that every £1 spent on the NHS Health Check programme generates a £2.93 societal return to be valid; and what evidence they have that the assumptions underpinning this estimate remain valid.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The NHS Health Check programme was introduced in England in April 2009. It has been subject to a number of subsequent evaluations and reviews, the latest of which was published in 2021.

The programme currently engages over 1.3 million people each year and, through behavioural and clinical interventions, prevents approximately 500 heart attacks and strokes a year. The NHS Health Check also identifies over 333,000 cases of obesity, 340,000 cases of high blood pressure, and 900,000 cases of raised cholesterol each year.

We are refreshing the NHS Health Check’s Best Practice Guidance with practical examples and tips to help commissioners and providers to improve delivery and support uptake of the programme. We are also developing the NHS Health Check Online which will allow people to undertake their NHS Health Check at home, at a time and place convenient to them.

As announced in the recently published Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework, we have commissioned the National Institute for Health and Care Research to conduct an evidence review on the scope of the programme, which includes an update to the modelling assumptions used to estimate its impact.

The evidence review is expected to be completed by the second half of 2027, and we will consider the findings as appropriate to inform future policy development.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their report Preventing illness and improving health for all: a review of the NHS Health Check programme and recommendations, published on 9 December 2021, what proportion of the estimated £2.93 return for every £1 spent on the NHS Health Check programme is attributable to savings to the NHS and other health and social care services.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The NHS Health Check programme was introduced in England in April 2009. It has been subject to a number of subsequent evaluations and reviews, the latest of which was published in 2021.

The programme currently engages over 1.3 million people each year and, through behavioural and clinical interventions, prevents approximately 500 heart attacks and strokes a year. The NHS Health Check also identifies over 333,000 cases of obesity, 340,000 cases of high blood pressure, and 900,000 cases of raised cholesterol each year.

We are refreshing the NHS Health Check’s Best Practice Guidance with practical examples and tips to help commissioners and providers to improve delivery and support uptake of the programme. We are also developing the NHS Health Check Online which will allow people to undertake their NHS Health Check at home, at a time and place convenient to them.

As announced in the recently published Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework, we have commissioned the National Institute for Health and Care Research to conduct an evidence review on the scope of the programme, which includes an update to the modelling assumptions used to estimate its impact.

The evidence review is expected to be completed by the second half of 2027, and we will consider the findings as appropriate to inform future policy development.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they monitor the long-term NHS and social care savings arising from the NHS Health Check programme; and if not, why not.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The NHS Health Check programme was introduced in England in April 2009. It has been subject to a number of subsequent evaluations and reviews, the latest of which was published in 2021.

The programme currently engages over 1.3 million people each year and, through behavioural and clinical interventions, prevents approximately 500 heart attacks and strokes a year. The NHS Health Check also identifies over 333,000 cases of obesity, 340,000 cases of high blood pressure, and 900,000 cases of raised cholesterol each year.

We are refreshing the NHS Health Check’s Best Practice Guidance with practical examples and tips to help commissioners and providers to improve delivery and support uptake of the programme. We are also developing the NHS Health Check Online which will allow people to undertake their NHS Health Check at home, at a time and place convenient to them.

As announced in the recently published Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework, we have commissioned the National Institute for Health and Care Research to conduct an evidence review on the scope of the programme, which includes an update to the modelling assumptions used to estimate its impact.

The evidence review is expected to be completed by the second half of 2027, and we will consider the findings as appropriate to inform future policy development.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase the annual uptake rate of those invited to take part in the NHS Health Check programme.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The NHS Health Check programme was introduced in England in April 2009. It has been subject to a number of subsequent evaluations and reviews, the latest of which was published in 2021.

The programme currently engages over 1.3 million people each year and, through behavioural and clinical interventions, prevents approximately 500 heart attacks and strokes a year. The NHS Health Check also identifies over 333,000 cases of obesity, 340,000 cases of high blood pressure, and 900,000 cases of raised cholesterol each year.

We are refreshing the NHS Health Check’s Best Practice Guidance with practical examples and tips to help commissioners and providers to improve delivery and support uptake of the programme. We are also developing the NHS Health Check Online which will allow people to undertake their NHS Health Check at home, at a time and place convenient to them.

As announced in the recently published Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework, we have commissioned the National Institute for Health and Care Research to conduct an evidence review on the scope of the programme, which includes an update to the modelling assumptions used to estimate its impact.

The evidence review is expected to be completed by the second half of 2027, and we will consider the findings as appropriate to inform future policy development.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what impact the NHS Health Check has had on improving patient outcomes.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The NHS Health Check programme was introduced in England in April 2009. It has been subject to a number of subsequent evaluations and reviews, the latest of which was published in 2021.

The programme currently engages over 1.3 million people each year and, through behavioural and clinical interventions, prevents approximately 500 heart attacks and strokes a year. The NHS Health Check also identifies over 333,000 cases of obesity, 340,000 cases of high blood pressure, and 900,000 cases of raised cholesterol each year.

We are refreshing the NHS Health Check’s Best Practice Guidance with practical examples and tips to help commissioners and providers to improve delivery and support uptake of the programme. We are also developing the NHS Health Check Online which will allow people to undertake their NHS Health Check at home, at a time and place convenient to them.

As announced in the recently published Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework, we have commissioned the National Institute for Health and Care Research to conduct an evidence review on the scope of the programme, which includes an update to the modelling assumptions used to estimate its impact.

The evidence review is expected to be completed by the second half of 2027, and we will consider the findings as appropriate to inform future policy development.

Found: Supported by: Baroness Benjamin, The Lord Bishop of Manchester and Lord Mott.

Found: Apologies and notices Apologies were received from Lord Barber of Chittlehampton, Lord Mott and Baroness

Found: Apologies and notices Apologies were received from Lord Mott and Baroness Nichols of Selby. 2.

The Inquiry will be looking into a broad range of issues regarding children’s social care, including the changing demand for care and local authority funding, the supply of residential placements and the impact of market management measures within the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act. Additionally, the inquiry will seek evidence on fostering, workforce, and regulations, and finally the outcomes for care-experienced children.