High Streets: Autumn Budget 2024

Debate between Angus MacDonald and Nusrat Ghani

Thursday 23rd January 2025 Commons Chamber

[Mr Angus MacDonald (Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire) (LD)]

I wonder whether the Minister will consider what I am about to say. I have been asked to go to the Isle of Skye on Saturday for a crisis meeting. There is a group of hotels, which are family-run businesses, not big multinationals, and they face an awful combination of increases across the board, including heating price increases. Their No. 1 issue is national insurance contributions and minimum wage costs. They think that, on average, their costs will go up by between £40,000 and £70,000. They are in a very poor state indeed. Can the Minister give me any encouragement that I could pass on to them on her behalf?

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

Mr MacDonald, your intervention was on the Member, so the question goes to her, and she can insist on the Minister responding.