Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support hospitality businesses that are (a) reducing their workforce and (b) operating at reduced capacity due to cost pressures.

The Government recognises the vital role hospitality businesses play in local economies and communities. We also recognise the pressures they face.

That's why creating a fairer business rates system, including permanently lower rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties under £500,000 and protecting the smallest businesses by increasing the Employment Allowance to £10,500, so that 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all and can hire up to four full-time workers on the National Living Wage without incurring employer NIC costs.

We also work closely with the Hospitality Sector Council to improve the productivity and resilience of hospitality businesses by co-creating solutions to the issues including cost and employment pressures.