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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to support an increase in the level of skilled workers in the hospitality sector.

The Government is in regular dialogue with the sector and is aware of the recruitment challenges facing businesses. The Hospitality Sector Council is actively looking at this issue and the Government is working with businesses and the Hospitality and Tourism Skills Board to consider how best to strengthen recruitment, and training for the hospitality sector.

Immediate support includes £900 million annually for dedicated Work Coaches, adding hospitality and catering qualifications to the Free Courses for Jobs (part of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee.

The Government is backing five Private Members’ Bills on employment rights, including the including in the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill, which will create a legal obligation on employers to pass on tips to workers in full, in a fair and transparent manner. This package of Bills will deliver on commitments in the 2019 manifesto, helping new parents, unpaid carers, hospitality workers, and giving employees better access to flexible working.

On 1 April 2022, the Government increased the National Living Wage by 6.6% to £9.50. A full-time worker on the National Living Wage will have seen their annual earnings rise by over £1,000.