Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what modelling his Department has undertaken on the impact of the rise in National Insurance Contributions and the removal of remaining covid-19 Government support schemes on businesses in the hospitality sector.

Throughout the pandemic, the Government has worked closely with leaders in the hospitality sector and others to monitor the financial health of the most impacted sectors. This analysis has influenced decisions to provide a comprehensive £400 billion package of support, which provided a lifeline for many restaurants, pubs, and bars. The Government continues to evaluate the impact of these policies and engage with the sector.

Due to Government action and the resilience of business leaders across the industry, there are positive signs that the sector is recovering. Employment in the sector has reached pre-pandemic levels and vacancies are at record levels, which demonstrates that hospitality is back to usual form and creating jobs again.

On 21 February, the Prime Minister announced the government’s plans to live with the virus, paving the way for customers to return to offices and hospitality venues with confidence. As we move into the next phase, Government remains committed to supporting the sector to return to growth, including with a new temporary business rates relief for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors worth almost £1.7 billion in 2022-23