Hospitality Businesses

Lord Swire Excerpts

Tuesday 27th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Harper (Con)]

My Lords—

[Lord Swire (Con)]

My Lords—

[Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms and Chief Whip (Lord Kennedy of Southwark) (Lab Co-op)]

We will hear from the Cross Benches next, then we will go to the Conservative Benches.

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Harper (Con)]

My Lords—

[Lord Swire (Con)]

My Lords—

[Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)]

Can you please decide who is going to ask a question on the Conservative Benches?

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Stockwood (Lab)]

There are a number of difficult choices that we are trying to make. The visitor economy is clearly a huge part of who we are and what we should be proud of in this country. The industrial strategy we have set out is around eight key sectors that have comparative advantage to us, but, again, all those are about how we can make the economy stronger overall so that we can have an attractive proposition for all our industries, including our hospitality and the tourism sectors.

[Lord Swire (Con)]

My Lords, given that road safety must be paramount, would the Minister share with us the Government’s current thinking on drink-driving levels? Does he accept that drink-driving campaigners will never cease campaigning until they have zero drink-driving? What assessment have the Government made of the effect on our beleaguered and hard-pressed rural hubs if the levels were to be reduced further than they are now?

[Lord Stockwood (Lab)]

I will have to come back and write to the noble Lord specifically about the drink-driving regulations; I do not have that to hand for this Question. I can tell the noble Lord that this Government are committed to supporting the great British pub. Like many Peers who started their careers in the industry, I worked both as a waiter and as a barman. The Budget is looking not just at the commitments we can make financially but at positive licensing reforms overall, including the first national licensing policy framework. However, I will come back specifically to write to the noble Lord on the question of drink-driving.