Oral Answers to Questions

John Whittingdale Excerpts

Tuesday 27th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Paula Barker (Liverpool Wavertree) (Lab)]

4. Whether she plans to increase the level of small business rates relief for the hair and beauty sector.

[Sir John Whittingdale (Maldon) (Con)]

9. What fiscal steps she is taking to support the hospitality sector.

[Olly Glover (Didcot and Wantage) (LD)]

10. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to business rates on the hospitality sector.

--- Later in debate ---

[Dan Tomlinson]

I thank my hon. Friend for the work that she is doing to champion salons and the beauty industry in her constituency and elsewhere. She will know that VAT is a broad-based tax; in fact, it is our third largest revenue raiser, raising £180 billion last year. That is vital revenue that pays for our public services. There are lots of issues in relation to VAT, including the differential treatment depending on how salons decide to set themselves up and pay their employees. Those are important issues, and we will consider tax changes in the usual way in the run-up to future Budgets.

[Sir John Whittingdale]

I recently visited the Ship Inn in Burnham-on-Crouch, which has a few hotel rooms, as well as Peaberries, a tea shop on the high street. Both are looking at existential threats as a result of business rates. Can the Minister say whether the package that he will announce later will benefit them as well?