Hospitality Sector Minister

Lord Dodds of Duncairn Excerpts

Wednesday 3rd February 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Callanan (Con) [V]]

My noble friend is totally correct in terms of the importance of the hospitality sector. I can assure her that we will not keep restrictions for a day longer than is absolutely necessary, but we cannot have a road map at this stage because we do not have enough data as yet to know exactly how soon it would be safe to reopen. The picture should, I hope, be clearer by mid-February.

[Lord Dodds of Duncairn (DUP) [V]]

My Lords, I heartily endorse the call of the noble Lord, Lord Caine, for a hospitality Minister, who could co-ordinate the national response right across the United Kingdom. In the meantime, can I urge the Minister with responsibility to take on board the need to extend the VAT cut, which has applied from July through to 31 March? Most hospitality businesses have been closed for a large proportion of that time, and it would not make any sense that, as they reopen, that cut would not be available to help them through the very grave difficulties that they will face.

[Lord Callanan (Con) [V]]

The noble Lord made his point very powerfully, and I will ensure that his comments are passed on to the Chancellor.