Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton West)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on steps to support the tourism industry in Wales.
Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales
Although tourism is devolved, the UK Government is firmly committed to working with the Welsh Government to support Wales’ tourism industry.
In March, my colleague the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, alongside the Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, visited Elan Valley Lakes. This project, which will benefit from £11.8 million investment from both UK and Welsh Governments, will enhance visitor experience to the site and safeguard the natural beauty and biodiversity of the Elan Valley.
In addition, in February, the UK Government announced £15 million in funding for Venue Cymru and the Newport Transporter Bridge. These are three key projects that will strengthen Wales’ tourism industry and attract more visitors.
I also support the millions of pounds of investment into the tourism industry in Wales made by the Welsh Government in their Budget, which the Conservative and Plaid Cymru parties in the Senedd decided to vote against.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh and Atherton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reforming the application of VAT to the hair and beauty sector, in the context of levels of competition with other self-employed businesses in (a) Leigh and Atherton constituency and (b) elsewhere.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s third largest tax, forecast to raise £180 billion in 2025/26.
The Government recognises the important social and economic role of the hair and beauty sector, which not only contributes to people’s well-being, but also plays a vital role in supporting local economies across the country.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 51082 on National Landscapes: Chilterns, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing changes to the budget of Natural England in the context of the cancellation of the project to expand the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Beauty; and if she will publish the technical review completed by LUC.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
For year 2025/26 the direct funding for National Landscape designation work was not continued. Natural England is using baseline budget to fund a reduced programme of landscape designation work. Decisions on future funding for Natural England will be made as part of the 2025 multi-year Spending Review and through finance settlement processes. Natural England are considering how the evidence base which has been gathered so far through their designation work can best be shared and used.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 46841 on Personal Care Services: Licensing, how many hairdresser and barber businesses has HMRC investigated following evidence suggesting that they may have misclassified individuals for tax purposes in the last five years.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
HMRC is committed to ensuring the tax system operates fairly and efficiently, creating a level playing field for all compliant businesses.
Businesses providing personal care services, including hairdressers and barbers often operate using the ‘rent-a-chair’ business model. This unique but legitimate business model, unless applied correctly, can result in individuals being wrongly classed as self-employed for employment purposes.
HMRC are committed to tackling false self-employment and will investigate evidence that suggests businesses have misclassified individuals for tax purposes.
HMRC have worked with trade bodies for this sector to develop new educational material including a YouTube video and have published guidance on GOV.UK to better explain the employment status and tax implications of different business models, including the ‘rent-a-chair’ model. Details can be found at: https://youtu.be/5o3au6PyXG8 & https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-employment-status-if-you-work-in-hair-and-beauty.
HMRC does not segment its data on businesses who have been investigated for misclassification of individuals for tax purposes by sector.
Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many apprenticeship starts there were in the hair and beauty sector in (a) 2023-4 and (b) 2024-5; and what estimate she has made of the number of apprenticeship starts expected in the hair and beauty sector in 2025-6.
Answered by Janet Daby
The number of hair and beauty related apprenticeship starts in England is published in the apprenticeship accredited official statistics publication, which can be accessed at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/aab773ca-8918-4c57-2ec9-08dd9836fa33.
These were last published in March 2025 and include full year figures for the 2023/24 academic year and year to date figures for the 2024/25 academic year (August 2024 to January 2025).
Apprenticeships are jobs and starts are dependent on employers choosing to offer apprenticeship opportunities, as well as individuals choosing to undertake them.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reducing VAT on beauty and hair salons.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
VAT is the UK’s third largest tax. It is forecast to raise £180 billion in 2024/25, which funds public services. VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reducing the rate of VAT applicable to beauty and hair salons.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
VAT is the UK’s third largest tax. It is forecast to raise £180 billion in 2024/25, which funds public services. VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of the number of apprenticeships delivered by the hair and beauty sector.
Answered by Janet Daby
The number of ‘hair and beauty’ related apprenticeship starts in England is published in the Apprenticeship accredited official statistics publication, which can be accessed at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/66bd1260-5cd4-4769-1f8e-08dd8e2f6934. These were last published in March 2025. They include full year figures from 2019/20 to 2023/24, and year to date figures for 2024/25 (August 2024 to January 2025).
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of workers in the nail salon industry who are victims of modern slavery or human trafficking; what data her Department holds on the total number of such victims identified in this sector in the last five years; and what steps she is taking to (a) identify and (b) support victims within this industry.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Government takes reports of labour exploitation in the beauty sector and nail bars very seriously, and we remain committed to tackling the crime of modern slavery – wherever it occurs.
The Government is establishing the Fair Work Agency, which will bring under one roof multiple agencies and bodies, including the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate, and HMRC’s National Minimum and Living Wage Team. This will ensure a more cohesive and streamlined response to exploitation across the economy. The Fair Work Agency will have enhanced powers and resources to identify and address labour exploitation more effectively. It will be a strong, recognisable brand so individuals know where to go for help.
We do not currently hold data for the number of victims of modern slavery and human trafficking within the nail salon industry. Nonetheless, we will continue to monitor the sector closely alongside the Director of Labour Market Enforcement, including emerging intelligence and trends, to ensure we target our work effectively.
The National Referral Mechanism is the UK’s framework for identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery and human trafficking. Once identified, victims are entitled to support under the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract - regardless of their nationality and where their modern slavery experience has occurred, unless the public order or bad faith disqualifications apply.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of tax receipts from the hair and beauty sector.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) does not hold readily available analysis on tax receipts from the hair and beauty sector.