Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made a recent assessment of the reasons for trends in the level of nightclub closures; and whether he has had recent discussions with the (a) Night Time Industries Association and (b) other organisations on the potential impact of trends in the level of nightclub closures on (i) the night time economy, (ii) rates of (A) anti-social behaviour and (B) other crimes and (iii) the growth of unregulated alternative venues.

The Government recognises the importance of nightclubs and other hospitality businesses to the night-time economy. BEIS Ministers and officials meet regularly with the NTIA and UK Hospitality to discuss the challenges facing night time economy businesses, including high energy and cost of living pressures.

The Energy Bill Relief Scheme ensures that businesses are protected from excessively high energy bills over the winter period, and my Rt hon Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer recently announced in his Autumn Statement a range of measures to support firms with business rates worth £13.6 billion over the next 5 years, including increased and extended Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) relief.

My Rt hon Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer recently announced in his Autumn Statement a range of measures to support firms with business rates worth £13.6 billion over the next 5 years, including increased and extended Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) relief.

The Home Office provided the police, local authorities and other local agencies with a range of flexible tools and powers that they can use to respond quickly and effectively to ASB through the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.