Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what further steps he plans to take to support the hospitality sector in the Colne Valley constituency.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Hospitality businesses, including those in Colne Valley, are at the heart of our communities and vital for economic growth. That is why the Government is creating a fairer business rate system by introducing permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses from 2026-27 and extending the current relief for 1 year at 40%.
The government is also reducing alcohol duty on qualifying draught products, representing an overall reduction in duty bills of over £85m a year.
We will transform the apprenticeship levy into a more flexible growth and skills levy to better support business and boost opportunity.
Through the Hospitality Sector Council, we are addressing strategic issues for the sector related to high street regeneration, skills, sustainability, and productivity.
The department also provides support through the Business Support Service and network of Growth Hubs – including the West Yorkshire Business Support Service.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department is taking steps to increase green investment in the hospitality industry.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department is working with the hospitality sector through the Hospitality Sector Council to help businesses become more environmentally sustainable. This includes producing energy saving guidance for small businesses, helping small operators understand how to reach net zero, and creating a toolkit to improve the sector's biodiversity footprint.
We are also working closely with Defra and DESNZ on how to increase green investment in the industry.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he taking to ensure that as many people as possible benefit from the national minimum wage in Colne Valley constituency.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is determined to deliver a genuine living wage for working people and has asked the Low Pay Commission to make progress on extending the National Living Wage to all adults.
HMRC enforces the minimum wage, and they investigate where they believe an employer is not paying the minimum wage. This includes considering all complaints from workers, conducting proactive enforcement activities and delivering educational activity to support employer compliance.
The National Minimum Wage Naming Scheme sends a clear message to businesses that they must pay their workers at least the National Minimum Wage where required, or we will publicly name them for having failed to meet their legal obligations.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help support small businesses in Colne Valley constituency.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is investing £1.14 billion over 30 years (£38 million annually) towards West Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s local economic priorities, including business support. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund also provides £83 million for West Yorkshire, including support to businesses in Colne Valley.
For small businesses across the country, we will deliver on commitments to boost exports, improve access to finance, stamp out late payment practices and open up competition for public procurement contracts. The department also provides support through Help to Grow Management, the Business Support Service and a network of Growth Hubs – including the West Yorkshire Business Support Service.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help increase exports to European countries from (a) Colne Valley constituency and (b) West Yorkshire.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade is committed to boosting UK exports to the EU. UK businesses, including those in Colne Valley & West Yorkshire, can access our export support via Great.gov.uk. This comprises a digital self-serve offer and our wider network of support, including Export Champions, the Export Academy, our International Markets network, and UK Export Finance. Alongside this, our international trade advisers provide one-to-one tailored support to businesses across the UK.
We will also continue work with the EU to improve the UK’s trade and investment relationship and reduce unnecessary barriers to trade, in order to help British and EU businesses thrive.