Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing to (1) retail, (2) hospitality, and (3) leisure, businesses.

The Spring Budget 2023 announced a £63m fund for public swimming pool providers to help with immediate cost pressures and make facilities more energy efficient. It has also been announced that there will be an increase in Draught Relief from 1 August to 9.2% to freeze the duty charged on a typical pint of beer in the pub and ensure this will always be lower than in the supermarket.

The Autumn Statement 2022 announced a package of changes to business rates worth £13.6bn over the next 5 years in lower bills. This includes a freeze to the multiplier, scrapping the downward revaluation cap and extending and increasing the generosity of the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief from 50% to 75% in 2023-24, up to £110,000 per business.

This is in addition to the Energy Bills Relief Scheme, which discounts businesses’ energy bills until 31 March 2023; the new Energy Bills Discount Scheme; the increased Employment Allowance of £5,000, which takes the smallest 40% of businesses out of paying any National Insurance at all; and setting the Annual Investment Allowance at £1 million permanently.