Oral Answers to Questions

Blake Stephenson Excerpts

Wednesday 29th January 2025 Commons Chamber

[Charlie Dewhirst (Bridlington and The Wolds) (Con)]

1. Whether she has had discussions with the Welsh Government on the potential impact of the proposed visitor levy on the economy in Wales.

[Blake Stephenson (Mid Bedfordshire) (Con)]

10. Whether she has had discussions with the Welsh Government on the potential impact of the proposed visitor levy on the economy in Wales.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con)]

12. Whether she has had discussions with the Welsh Government on the potential impact of the proposed visitor levy on the economy in Wales.

--- Later in debate ---

[Blake Stephenson]

I welcome the Government’s ambition to welcome 50 million visitors per year to the UK by 2030, but does the Secretary of State share my concern that a visitor levy, combined with ever more expensive electronic travel authorisations, will make it much more expensive for people to visit Wales, and indeed my constituency of Mid Bedfordshire, starving hard-working people of income at a time when they have to pay Labour’s jobs tax?

[Jo Stevens]

As far as I am aware, Mid Bedfordshire is not in Wales. The hon. Member raises objections to the Welsh Government’s policy, but he should perhaps check his own ranks first, because Conservative-run Great Yarmouth borough council has supported a form of tourist levy for years.