Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which businesses have used the Standard Industrial Classification code 56302 in each region of the UK in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
Please see below the annual business counts for the SIC code 56302 (Public houses and bars) for UK regions for the past 10 years. Note that some figures have been rounded by ONS to prevent disclosure. All figures are drawn from the Inter-Departmental-Business-Register via NOMIS.
Region | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
North East | 1,320 | 1,250 | 1,280 | 1,290 | 1,245 | 1,255 | 1,270 | 1,360 | 1,365 | 1,335 | 1,355 |
North West | 3,910 | 3,710 | 3,675 | 3,660 | 3,595 | 3,520 | 3,510 | 3,575 | 3,560 | 3,480 | 3,620 |
Yorkshire and The Humber | 3,160 | 3,060 | 3,020 | 3,045 | 2,980 | 2,895 | 2,890 | 2,930 | 2,960 | 2,935 | 3,015 |
East Midlands | 2,920 | 2,810 | 2,765 | 2,785 | 2,720 | 2,680 | 2,680 | 2,665 | 2,660 | 2,570 | 2,615 |
West Midlands | 3,035 | 2,875 | 2,830 | 2,830 | 2,755 | 2,730 | 2,670 | 2,755 | 2,740 | 2,675 | 2,745 |
East | 3,195 | 3,000 | 3,005 | 2,935 | 2,860 | 2,795 | 2,800 | 2,820 | 2,810 | 2,705 | 2,715 |
London | 2,415 | 2,290 | 2,260 | 2,330 | 2,270 | 2,195 | 2,190 | 2,215 | 2,245 | 2,225 | 2,265 |
South East | 4,755 | 4,505 | 4,450 | 4,385 | 4,270 | 4,150 | 4,125 | 4,140 | 4,060 | 3,955 | 3,980 |
South West | 3,940 | 3,820 | 3,730 | 3,690 | 3,610 | 3,565 | 3,510 | 3,555 | 3,495 | 3,395 | 3,405 |
Wales | 2,210 | 2,090 | 2,080 | 2,030 | 1,950 | 1,900 | 1,855 | 1,820 | 1,835 | 1,770 | 1,765 |
Scotland | 2,625 | 2,515 | 2,520 | 2,465 | 2,380 | 2,305 | 2,315 | 2,315 | 2,265 | 2,120 | 2,145 |
Northern Ireland | 840 | 800 | 755 | 720 | 710 | 715 | 730 | 735 | 720 | 705 | 700 |
Total | 34,320 | 32,725 | 32,375 | 32,160 | 31,345 | 30,710 | 30,545 | 30,885 | 30,720 | 29,865 | 30,325 |
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate she has made of the number of small to medium-sized enterprises that have closed down since (a) January 2022, and (b) January 2020.
Answered by Dean Russell
From January 2022 until the end of June 2022 there were an estimated total of 251,000 registered business closures[1]. This compares with 276,000 between January and June 2021, 176,000 between January and June 2020 and 178,0000 between January and June 2019[2].
From January 2020 until the end of June 2022 there were an estimated total of 1,004,000 registered business closures[3]. The corresponding figure for between January 2017 and June 2019 is 833,000[4].
Data is not available to estimate the number of closures for Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) specifically, however, given 99.9% of registered businesses are SMEs[5], it is likely that the total number of registered business closures is very close to the total number of SME closures.
[1] ONS Business demography, quarterly experimental statistics
[2] ONS Business demography, quarterly experimental statistics
[3] ONS Business demography, quarterly experimental statistics
[4] UK business; activity, size and location Statistical bulletins
[5] BEIS Business population estimates, 2021
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions his Department has had with representatives of the hospitality industry on (a) rising energy bills, (b) labour shortages and (c) rising food and drink prices.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
This Department launched the Hospitality Sector Council to oversee the delivery of the Hospitality Strategy in July 2021 to support the sector across a range of policy areas, grouped into three themes: Reopening, Recovery, and Resilience. The Council last met on 18 July and is scheduled to meet on 24 October.
Between meetings, council members provide regular insights and data on the energy challenges faced by businesses, informing the development of Government support including the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. The Government engages regularly with hospitality businesses and organisations to understand the pressing issues and challenges that they face, including cost pressures, supply chain disruptions and the impact of rising energy prices on businesses of all sizes.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an estimate of the number of (a) pubs, (b) restaurants and (c) takeaways in operation in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
Official data[1] show that, between 2013 and 2022, there were an average of 31,200 pubs and bars, 48,500 restaurants and 35,900 takeaways and mobile food stands operating each year across the UK. In 2022, there were approximately 30,300 pubs and bars, 58,100 restaurants, and 43,700 takeaways and mobile food stands. Full business counts data are provided in Annex A.
Annex A: Business counts, UK, 2013 - 2022
Year | SIC Code 56101: Licensed restaurants | SIC Code 56102: Unlicensed restaurants and cafes | Total restaurants (SIC Codes 56101 + 56102) | SIC Code 56103: Take away food shops and mobile food stands | SIC Code 56302: Public houses and bars |
2013 | 24,140 | 12,785 | 36,925 | 27,965 | 32,725 |
2014 | 25,160 | 14,415 | 39,575 | 28,925 | 32,375 |
2015 | 26,860 | 18,715 | 45,575 | 34,595 | 32,160 |
2016 | 27,210 | 19,885 | 47,095 | 35,190 | 31,345 |
2017 | 27,625 | 21,060 | 48,685 | 35,765 | 30,710 |
2018 | 28,180 | 22,025 | 50,205 | 36,670 | 30,545 |
2019 | 28,705 | 22,970 | 51,675 | 37,465 | 30,885 |
2020 | 29,130 | 23,670 | 52,800 | 38,170 | 30,720 |
2021 | 29,680 | 24,810 | 54,490 | 40,570 | 29,865 |
2022 | 31,420 | 26,655 | 58,075 | 43,705 | 30,325 |
2013 - 2022 average | 27,811 | 20,699 | 48,510 | 35,902 | 31,166 |
[1] ONS business counts data, 2013-2022.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact on consumer energy bills of (a) faults and (b) loss of smart function in smart meters.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Over half of energy meters in Great Britain are now smart meters. The vast majority are operating as intended, providing consumers with automatic meter readings and near-real time usage information via the In-Home Display. Estimates, based on the current typical household bill, indicate the rollout is delivering over £0.5 billion in annual bill savings.
Allowances for operational factors such as maintenance or faults are already factored into industry’s cost bases. Energy suppliers have commercial incentives to ensure these costs are minimised, including having active programmes to address faults where they do exist.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with Ofgem on energy companies’ policies on responding to issues with customers’ smart meters.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy works closely with Ofgem to monitor suppliers' performance.
Energy suppliers are required by licence conditions to take all reasonable steps to ensure their customers' smart meters are fully functional. Ofgem is responsible for regulating energy suppliers against these obligations and against the Standards of Conduct, which set out expectations regarding behaviour and customer service.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions his Department has had with Ofgem on energy companies’ policies on responding to issues with customers’ smart meters such as inaccurate or failed readings.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy works closely with Ofgem and industry to monitor and support a positive consumer experience of smart meters.
Energy suppliers are required by licence conditions to take all reasonable steps to ensure their customers’ smart meters are fully functional and are obligated to provide customers with complete and accurate information. Ofgem is responsible for regulating energy suppliers against their licence obligations.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has made an assessment of the affordability for people in households below average national income of purchasing a fridge freezer with an energy rating system of D+ and above.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
Household refrigerators are subject to regulations that set minimum energy performance standards and mandatory energy labelling, both of which were updated in 2021 to improve the efficiency of appliances on the market, making them cheaper to run and helping consumers to choose the right product for them. In making those changes, the Department did not make the specific assessment referred to in the question.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many times the Government has met with representatives of the (a) construction, (b) manufacturing and (c) hospitality industries specifically to discuss labour shortages, in the last three months.
Answered by Jane Hunt
BEIS Ministers and officials regularly meet with construction, manufacturing and hospitality businesses and representatives from all three sectors to discuss a range of issues including labour shortages. Employment in the hospitality sector is now above pre-pandemic levels.
Additionally, BEIS officials recently met with the National Manufacturing Skills Task Force to discuss how Government and industry can work together to address the skills and workforce challenges of manufacturing employers. Officials are in active dialogue across all sectors.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the sectors worst affected by skills shortages; and what steps his Department is taking to help fill those vacancies.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
BEIS works closely with the Department for Education which leads on the collection of skills data for business sectors. The Employer Skills Survey[1] 2019 found that skill-shortage vacancy density was highest in the Construction and Manufacturing sectors.
BEIS is working with other relevant departments and industry to address skills and workforce issues with a focus on construction and manufacturing where the data suggest skills challenges.