Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have undertaken a risk assessment on the impact of (1) the rate of closures in the hospitality sector, (2) job losses in the hospitality sector, and (3) the impact of lost investment in high streets.

The Government recognises the vital contribution hospitality businesses make to jobs, high streets and the economy.

We keep pressures on the sector under review and are taking action to support resilience, jobs and investment. At Budget, the Chancellor announced the government is introducing a two-year real-terms freeze for all retail, hospitality and leisure properties to cap bill increases at inflation. The Government is also increasing the Small Business Rates Relief thresholds for retail, hospitality and leisure properties, taking a further 70,000 properties out of business rates altogether and meaning half of all RHL properties will pay no business rates.

We continue to engage closely with businesses and representative bodies, including through the Hospitality Sector Council, to understand the challenges facing the sector and opportunities for growth.