Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether overnight stays associated with major infrastructure projects, including Hinkley Point C in Somerset, would be within the scope of a future Overnight Visitor Levy.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The precise design and scope of any Overnight Visitor Levy are still under consideration following the public consultation. The Government will publish its formal response to the consultation in due course.
Decisions on whether to introduce a levy, and on specific local proposals, will be for Mayors and local leaders, subject to local consultation. The detailed scope, including any exemptions, administrative arrangements, use of revenues and other aspects of policy design will be set out, where relevant, in future legislation.
Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether consideration has been given to exempting business-related overnight stays from a future Overnight Visitor Levy.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The precise design and scope of any Overnight Visitor Levy are still under consideration following the public consultation. The Government will publish its formal response to the consultation in due course.
Decisions on whether to introduce a levy, and on specific local proposals, will be for Mayors and local leaders, subject to local consultation. The detailed scope, including any exemptions, administrative arrangements, use of revenues and other aspects of policy design will be set out, where relevant, in future legislation.
Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of an Overnight Visitor Levy on financial viability of small independent bed and breakfast operators and guest houses.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The precise design and scope of any Overnight Visitor Levy are still under consideration following the public consultation. The Government will publish its formal response to the consultation in due course.
Decisions on whether to introduce a levy, and on specific local proposals, will be for Mayors and local leaders, subject to local consultation. The detailed scope, including any exemptions, administrative arrangements, use of revenues and other aspects of policy design will be set out, where relevant, in future legislation.
Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of an Overnight Visitor Levy on the competitiveness of tourist destinations in the South West compared with destinations in Wales.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The precise design and scope of any Overnight Visitor Levy are still under consideration following the public consultation. The Government will publish its formal response to the consultation in due course.
Decisions on whether to introduce a levy, and on specific local proposals, will be for Mayors and local leaders, subject to local consultation. The detailed scope, including any exemptions, administrative arrangements, use of revenues and other aspects of policy design will be set out, where relevant, in future legislation.
Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to issue guidance on the proportion of revenue from an Overnight Visitor Levy to be spent on tourism-related infrastructure and services.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The precise design and scope of any Overnight Visitor Levy are still under consideration following the public consultation. The Government will publish its formal response to the consultation in due course.
Decisions on whether to introduce a levy, and on specific local proposals, will be for Mayors and local leaders, subject to local consultation. The detailed scope, including any exemptions, administrative arrangements, use of revenues and other aspects of policy design will be set out, where relevant, in future legislation.
Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the administrative costs to accommodation providers in collecting and remitting an Overnight Visitor Levy.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The precise design and scope of any Overnight Visitor Levy are still under consideration following the public consultation. The Government will publish its formal response to the consultation in due course.
Decisions on whether to introduce a levy, and on specific local proposals, will be for Mayors and local leaders, subject to local consultation. The detailed scope, including any exemptions, administrative arrangements, use of revenues and other aspects of policy design will be set out, where relevant, in future legislation.
Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to require mayoral authorities to consult local accommodation providers before introducing an Overnight Visitor Levy.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The precise design and scope of any Overnight Visitor Levy are still under consideration following the public consultation. The Government will publish its formal response to the consultation in due course.
Decisions on whether to introduce a levy, and on specific local proposals, will be for Mayors and local leaders, subject to local consultation. The detailed scope, including any exemptions, administrative arrangements, use of revenues and other aspects of policy design will be set out, where relevant, in future legislation.
Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether an assessment has been produced of the potential impact of an Overnight Visitor Levy on visitor attendance at major events and festivals across England.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The precise design and scope of any Overnight Visitor Levy are still under consideration following the public consultation. The Government will publish its formal response to the consultation in due course.
Decisions on whether to introduce a levy, and on specific local proposals, will be for Mayors and local leaders, subject to local consultation. The detailed scope, including any exemptions, administrative arrangements, use of revenues and other aspects of policy design will be set out, where relevant, in future legislation.
Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an estimate of the annual revenue that could be generated from an Overnight Visitor Levy.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The precise design and scope of any Overnight Visitor Levy are still under consideration following the public consultation. The Government will publish its formal response to the consultation in due course.
Decisions on whether to introduce a levy, and on specific local proposals, will be for Mayors and local leaders, subject to local consultation. The detailed scope, including any exemptions, administrative arrangements, use of revenues and other aspects of policy design will be set out, where relevant, in future legislation.
Asked by: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department plans to take to give powers to councils to reject applications for new betting shops, vapes stores and fake barbers.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The Government is taking action to give local authorities and communities the power greater control over the mix of uses on their high streets. Later this year Government will bring forward a new High Streets Strategy, backed by at least £150 million of support, to tackle the challenges care about most.
When parliamentary time allows, we will introduce Cumulative Impact Assessments in gambling licensing, enabling councils to better manage the concentration of gambling premises in vulnerable areas. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will also provide powers to introduce a licensing scheme for the retail sale of tobacco, vaping and nicotine products. Alongside this, the 2025 Budget committed £15 million per year to tackle illegal activity on the high street.