Asked by: Chris Ward (Labour - Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal options he is considering to provide further support for entrepreneurs.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
The Chancellor is fully focused on his priorities, to give families and businesses a bit of breathing space, back British jobs, and drive growth in every postcode, underpinned by a commitment to meet the fiscal rules.
This includes supporting entrepreneurship across the UK. The Chancellor's commitment to this is reflected in the appointment of Alex Depledge MBE as Entrepreneurship Adviser, providing expert advice across government on the barriers facing entrepreneurs and scaling businesses to help inform policymaking.
As has always been the case, decisions on tax are a matter for the Chancellor to set out at fiscal events, rather than routinely commenting on rumour, speculation or proposals.
Asked by: Chris Ward (Labour - Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps his Department is taking to support pubs and the hospitality sector.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Government recognises the value pubs and hospitality venues bring and the challenges they face. As such, the Government has announced a 20% cut to business rates bills for pubs from April 2027. This is in addition to the 15% relief off 2025/2026 bills, with bills frozen in real terms for a further two years. When taken together, these packages are worth nearly £250 million next year and will benefit around 32,000 pubs, social clubs and live music venues.
Separately, on 24 August 2026, the Government announced a review of pub and hotel business rates valuations to build a fairer system for the future.