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 he has had with the hospitality sector on business viability in that sector after Christmas 2022.

The Government recognise the impact rising prices are having on businesses of all sizes, and is engaging with the hospitality sector to understand these challenges as well as exploring ways to mitigate them. The Government is working with the Hospitality Sector Council to deliver on our 2021 Hospitality Strategy to improve the resilience of hospitality businesses.

The Energy Bill Relief Scheme ensures that businesses are protected from excessively high energy bills over the winter period. The Government has also provided temporary business rates relief of 50% in 2022-23 for eligible retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses worth almost £1.7 billion.