Oral Answers to Questions

Claire Hazelgrove Excerpts

Tuesday 8th September 2026 Commons Chamber

[Dan Tomlinson]

The hon. Member raises an important point. We need to ensure that we see higher economic growth in every part of the country, and that includes the north, the east, the west and the south-west of England. We have many fantastic Members on both sides of the House who are working and advocating for their communities. We will ensure that we drive and deepen devolution in areas that do not yet have a mayor. The Prime Minister has discussed the need to ensure that those who do not want to have a mayor—he highlighted Cornwall—can have specific further devolution powers. One of the examples we are looking at not too far from the hon. Member’s constituency, I believe, is place-based business cases, so that we can unlock investment in particular parts of the country; one of the places that we are looking at in detail is Plymouth.

[Claire Hazelgrove (Filton and Bradley Stoke) (Lab)]

3. What discussions he has had with representatives of pubs on the potential impact of business rates relief on the hospitality sector.

[Peter Swallow (Bracknell) (Lab)]

18. What discussions he has had with representatives of hospitality businesses on the potential impact of business rates relief on the sector.

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[Claire Hazelgrove]

My first job was as a pot washer and waitress in a pub at the age of 14. Today, pubs help me to bring fellow residents together for my pub politics events across the constituency. I know how much our pubs mean to us locally, and I warmly welcome further support for them. Will the Minister set out how that support will help to give pubs and the wider sector the certainty they need so that they and the great jobs they provide are here for generations to come?

[James Murray]

I know my hon. Friend is a great champion of pubs in her constituency. In fact, she has brought together people for her pub politics events, including at the Willy Wicket, the Beaufort Arms, the Baileys Court Inn—which I have been to—and the White Lion, where people come to talk about issues that matter to them. The support we are providing for pubs will be worth nearly £250 million next year. That will benefit around 32,000 venues, which helps to ensure that they and the jobs they provide will be there for the future.