Asked by: Michelle Scrogham (Labour - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure independent hospitality businesses can access the Hospitality Support Fund.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Hospitality Support Fund supports projects delivering wider benefits for hospitality businesses and communities, rather than funding individual businesses’ commercial expansion or refurbishment.
Eligible applicants include charities, not-for-profit organisations, social enterprises, SMEs acting as delivery partners, local authorities, public bodies and accountable organisations leading consortia. Independent hospitality businesses can benefit through projects delivered by these organisations.
The first application window closed on 13 October 2026, and applications are being assessed. A further competitive funding window is expected in early 2027.
Asked by: Michelle Scrogham (Labour - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent steps he has taken to support local pubs.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government recognises that pubs play a vital role in supporting local economies and communities across the UK.
That is why the Government announced business rates support for pubs. As of April 2026, every pub received a 15% cut to new business rates bills, followed by a two year real-terms freeze.
A new three-year £10m Hospitality Support Scheme will help improve the resilience of hospitality businesses, including helping pubs in rural areas diversify their community offer. Pubs will also be able to extend opening hours for Home Nations matches in the later stages of the Men’s Football World Cup 2026.