Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of introducing a visitor levy on visitor numbers to (a) England and (b) Essex.

The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area.

The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.