Commons Chamber

Wednesday 3rd September 2025

(began 3 months ago)

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None Portrait Q4. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help improve the quality of maternity care for women. (905465)
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highlights as well as others would not be worth it salt. What I commit to is to continue to work with DSIT to is to continue to work with DSIT
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Keir Starmer Portrait Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP, The Prime Minister (Holborn and St Pancras, Labour)
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there is a crisis brewing for the whole country. When was the last time the cost of government borrowing was so high?

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I join her in her comments on Mr Warburton. I think the Whole House Warburton. I think the Whole House would unite on an issue such as would unite on an issue such as that. In relation to the deputy Prime Minister, she explained her personal circumstances in detail. She has gone over and above in setting out the details, including setting out the details, including yesterday afternoon, asking the yesterday afternoon, asking the court to lift the confidentiality order in relation to her own son.

I know from speaking at length to the Deputy Prime Minister how difficult Deputy Prime Minister how difficult that decision was for herself and her family. She did it to ensure all information is in the public domain. She has referred herself to the She has referred herself to the independent adviser. That is the right thing to do. But I'm proud to sit alongside a Deputy Prime sit alongside a Deputy Prime Minister who is building 1.5 million homes, the biggest upgrade to workers rights in a generation and workers rights in a generation and has come from a working-class background to be Deputy Prime background to be Deputy Prime Minister of this country.

On the question of borrowing costs, they have risen across the world, as the Leader of the Opposition knows, we Leader of the Opposition knows, we are driving them down by getting debt down. That is hardwired into our fiscal rules, those fiscal rules are nonnegotiable. But I am not going to take lectures on the economy from the party opposite who crashed the economy, mortgages went through the roof and there was a record fall in living standards. record fall in living standards.
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Laura Trott Portrait Rt Hon Laura Trott MP (Sevenoaks, Conservative)
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I am grateful. I beg to move that leave be given to bring a bill to require travel assistance issued by the secretary of state and other persons to include guidance about the risks of methanol and connector purposes. I have been working closely on this issue on behalf of one of my constituents who, alongside her family, Sue, Neil, Tom and Amanda, have been fighting to raise awareness of the dangers of methanol the abroad following the tragic death of -- methanol poisoning abroad following the tragic death of Simon White.

She was following with her friend Bethany in Laos, they were staying in a riverside town about two miles north of the capital, a hub for backpackers travelling across Southeast Asia. It was here that she and her friend consumed shots of alcohol offered at the hostel, the next day, both were unwell but carried on with plans. Hours later, after boarding a bus to the next destination, things worsened, Bethany ended, Simone vomited. They were taken to a local hospital but doctors had no idea what was wrong.

Initially suspected food poisoning. Still confused and deteriorating, the girls made it to a private hospital. I cannot imagine how frightened and confused they must have been at this point. Sadly, by then, it was too late for Simone. She started having seizures during dialysis and was taken for emergency brain surgery. The surgery relieved the pressure but caused bleeding and the other side of her brain started to swell. The results confirming methanol were not available until methanol were not available until two weeks later, by then, Simone has sadly already passed away.

While Bethany did recover following hospitalisation, six of the young people fell victim to suspected methanol having drunk at the same hospital. Two young Australians, two young Danish women, an American all lost their lives. As the Australian Prime Minister said in November, this is every parent's worst nightmare. My heart goes out to all of the families who lost loved ones Tragic circumstances. Over the last year, I have learned so much about Simone, he was a much loved young woman.

She had a brilliant life ahead of her and it was clear from when I had handed her funeral that she was deeply loved by her friends and family. A year ago, like so many others here, I did not know much about methanol, yet over 1,000 people die from it every single year worldwide. This is such a huge danger that barely any others know about it. I also went backpacking after university but never knew about the dangers. Sadly, the same is true of so many of our young people.

This must change.. For members less aware than we should be, methanol is tasteless and is only a faint smell, making it impossible to tell if a drink has been contaminated. When consumed, it can lead to a coma, convulsions, blindness, nervous system damage and death. medical specialists say that drinking as little as 25 millilitres of methanol can be fatal, but it is sometimes added to drinks because it is cheaper than alcohol. Since the loss, Simone's family have campaigned tirelessly to prevent similar tragedies affecting other families.

Alongside Simone's friend, Bethany, they were raising awareness of the dangers of methanol and it was our honour earlier this year to help arrange a parliamentary drop-in session on the subject, alongside the Member for Torbay and turn and the Member for Dartford. The family were joined by representatives from the family -- travel industry, the British toxicology Society and the FCDO to educate MPs and the message was clear. Awareness saves lives. But only when government guidance is accurate, clear and consistent. Sadly, current official travel advice is falling short.

In some high-risk countries there is very little warning at all. What advice does exist, it is vague. Travellers are told that certain drinks might carry a risk or they should exercise caution. This is not a matter of caution. This is about a lethal and preventable danger. I appreciate that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has updated the section for travel advice on its website that we must do more to make the warnings clearer and more explicit so the information is more explicit so the information is more readily available to everyone.

The government's travel aware website has an informative section on methanol that more must be done to make the advice and guidance better known to young people before they travel. As things stand, you have to search for it to find it. My bill, supported by the members from Indian, Dartford, Cheadle and Lewisham, proposes a straightforward solution, it does not attempt to police alcohol sales abroad, does not require costly programs or enforcement, it requires the government to provide prominent, clear and consistent guidance about methanol poisoning for countries where the risk is known to exist.

Other governments have taken steps to warn their citizens, Australia's Smart Traveller service provides unambiguous, practical advice and reaches young travellers through We should do no less and must not be left behind. Families like Simone's are not asking for the impossible but asking for honesty, clarity, guidance that is actionable, so that other families do not suffer the same loss. We have already shown the collaboration between families, experts, and authorities, does raise awareness. It is time to put that into action.

The Minister is well aware of Simone's story. We have kindly hosted by the Foreign Office with the honourable member and the family earlier this year and I thank them for their engagement to date and look forward to working with them because I know that they understand there is a lot at stake. As Simone's mother said, "If it can happen to someone, it can happen to anyone." Let's start today the process of preventing further

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tragedies. I commend this bill to the House. The question is the right

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The question is the right honourable member have leave to bring in the bill. As many as of bring in the bill. As many as of that opinion, say, "Aye." To the contrary, say, "No." The ayes have contrary, say, "No." The ayes have it. We will commend the bill to the house?

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Vicky Foxcroft and myself.

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Vicky Foxcroft and myself.

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Methanol Poisoning Methanol Poisoning (Travel

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Methanol Poisoning (Travel Advice) Bill. Second Reading, 29th Advice) Bill. Second Reading, 29th of May, 2026. We Now Come to the of May, 2026. We Now Come to the Opposition Motion in the Name of the
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Mel Stride Portrait Rt Hon Sir Mel Stride MP (Central Devon, Conservative)
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as a result of the reckless immigration policies. She was also working on her property empire but there were some nagging doubts as to whether she had indeed paid enough stamp duty. We will get to that. Those who could not avoid paying the tax imposed by this government are the businesses up and down the country, many of whom I took the time during recess two visit. In the leisure sector alone, some 80,000 jobs have been destroyed by national insurance, particularly affecting those taking their first job, jungle workers, part-time workers, female workers.

-- Younger workers. Jobs being destroyed. While the deputy Prime Minister was lounging on her boat with her wine, the government was all at sea, like a cork bobbing on the tide with no control over the events around them. When it came to the economy, while eclipsed by the calamity of illegal migration, we saw the panicked recent reshuffle of the Treasury front bench. At this point, I would like to offer my congratulations to warmly welcome the honourable member to his new role but to tell him that he is joining a sinking ship, one of which the captain has just had all of authority strip from her and all of his comrades, down below deck, are trying to bail out the situation.

I would like to offer a fond farewell to the former Chief Secretary To The Treasury who no doubt thought it was very clever when he left off this sinking ship but he will not feel so property finds the place he has been sent to is even more dysfunctional on the Treasury front bench. Over the summer, among all the news about arrivals to our shores, we have the cruel summer of speculation around tax. We have seen in the skies clouds of kites, flown largely by the Treasury, as to what taxes they will put up and it has been tax, tax, tax.

I remind him of the Beatles and 'The Taxman', "If You Take a Walk, I Will Tax Your Feet." When it comes to tax, it is not so much 'Good Day', but 'Help'. I Was Going to Try 'Penny Lane' but I drew the line at that. It is worth examining how we got to this point because reckoning our for the country is surely coming and this will be a story for all. I will give way momentarily.

It started with broken promises. During the run-up to the general election, this party said they had no intention of raising taxes left, right, and centre, but they did precisely that within a month or two, with devastating consequences. Tax rises on businesses that stifled growth and a detox tone the economy by -- that stifled growth and they talked down the economy and the agony that they brought in the OBR to decide whether the black hole of £22 billion existed and the OBR said that they could not legitimise the claim.

They were wrong. What happened with spending and borrowing? What completely out of control and the combination of passing on price rises because of National Insurance increases and the extra borrowing and spending has led to higher inflation. We are an outlier when it comes to inflation. In turn, that has seen interest rates higher for longer and the servicing costs on national debt running at over £100 million a year, that being over twice what we spend

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on Defence. I will give way. I thank my honourable friend for

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I thank my honourable friend for giving way. Would he agree with me that this loss of market confidence that this loss of market confidence demands decisive action from the government at the Budget to correct government at the Budget to correct it? And, that the decisive action cannot solely be taken on the tax cannot solely be taken on the tax side because that is what has driven side because that is what has driven us into this loop. We need decisive action on spending and particularly welfare if we are to see restoration of market confidence and get ourselves out of this rut.



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ourselves out of this rut. As ever, my right honourable friend is right and you see it in friend is right and you see it in the bond yields that the markets have no confidence in the ability of the government to get on top of the government to get on top of spending. We saw the farce of a government that came into office, government that came into office, scrapping the £5 billion worth of welfare savings that were baked into welfare savings that were baked into the OBR scorecard because we put them in and they attempted to bring in their own reforms which were in their own reforms which were voted down by their own backbenchers.

The government does not have the will nor the plan to deal with spending. This is where my right honourable friend is so right, it is at the heart of the reason why we will be polished and pay the price of more taxes come the Budget in November. -- We will all be polished.

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I commend the shadow minister for

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I commend the shadow minister for bringing this forward and we should bringing this forward and we should all share the concern that the government is considering further attacks on property despite the fact attacks on property despite the fact the Prime Minister committed to not increase in capital gains tax in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Last year, it was the emergency tax and this year it is those who own property and those who have scrimped and saved to own their houses and the middle class who have now become the middle class who have now become the latest target of Labour tax

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policy. He is entirely right, of course. If you get into a situation where you are scrambling around and you are scrambling around and looking at policy for property tax, then really nothing is safe from the taxman under this government.

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taxman under this government. I thank him for giving way and I gently remind him that since this government came into power, interest government came into power, interest rates have been cut five times which is a vote of confidence that the Chancellor, fixing the condition of the economy and saving an average family in my constituency over £100 a month. Can't see remind me what happened to interest rates when his party was in power? -- Can he.

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Interest rates can bring down inflation and while she is right, there should have been more reductions and the reason is that reductions and the reason is that this government has stoked inflation. It is still rising and is inflation. It is still rising and is at twice the level or thereabouts that it was on the day of the last general election and when a general election and when a government stalks inflation, GPD price with higher interest rates. -- price with higher interest rates.

-- stokes. That is what has been happening.

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happening. He is right to highlight the impact of the massive tax increases on many families and businesses on many families and businesses across the country. Can he comment on how we can have a Deputy Prime Minister in government who has Minister in government who has admitted paying the tax that she owed and continues in office and people are paying the price for people are paying the price for lesser offences than that. Does this not expose the rank hypocrisy that runs through the government?

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If the right honourable lady wants to make laws, she should live by them. That message will go out to businesses and families across the country. There is no way that they can avoid the juggernaut of taxes coming down the track.

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In return for his generosity, I will say something pleasant about the last Conservative government. Wait for it... Just one thing. The Wait for it... Just one thing. The last government allowed councils last government allowed councils like my local constituency which is run by the Liberal Democrats to run by the Liberal Democrats to double some tax and that is correct because some committees are being because some committees are being annihilated. But can I acknowledge that the party should do much more that the party should do much more than that and that should be built into the planning review so that into the planning review so that national parks and councils can manage numbers and improve communities?

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communities? I thank him for his intervention and the kind words about the Conservative party which I am sure our very genuine. I would say that what the deputy prime minister what the deputy prime minister should be doing is delivering more should be doing is delivering more and it is clear that these will be delivered at the rate of 300,000 a year but that claim is not going to be met and I would be happy in the future to look at this but I suspect I will not get the chance.

Where we have ended up as a situation where we have a huge black hole living. The National Institute for Economics and Social Research estimates that as possibly £40 billion. This is a recurrent theme with the economic mismanagement of the party opposite and the October Budget, the first Budget that was £10 million out, that was blown by the time of the Spring Statement, the emergency Budget in the spring. Once again, it appears even that and considerably more has been blown all over again.

That is no surprise when it came to the U-turn on winter fuel payments, on welfare reforms that we have already discussed in this debate. That led to unfunded commitments of around £6 billion, but the Chancellor said the Labour Party would never find themselves in the situation. It has not happened. What signal does it send to the markets that the government cannot control spending? In the long term, it remains to be seen for what it will be our class to say about the forecast for -- remains to be seen what the OBR has to say about the bonds and we have seen this hitting 27-year high and we are paying more on borrowing than Greece.

There is a potential debt crisis looming and the country could be on the brink

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This government inherited higher bond yields, right now bond yields are going up in Germany, Japan and the United States.

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They stayed up under the last government, there was a need to support the economy and that involved the expenditure of £400 million, not least on the furlough million, not least on the furlough scheme, which, I do not remember his party at the time saying we should not do that. They were arguing we should go still further than that. should go still further than that. In and saved jobs and saved us going into the mass unemployment many into the mass unemployment many feared, worse even than the 19 and I take pride in that.

But we are where we are now and what this government should be doing is growing the should be doing is growing the economy, stoking up business sentiment, getting taxes down and getting the economy moving. And it

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is doing precisely the opposite. I am grateful to the shadow Secretary of State for giving way. Secretary of State for giving way. Isn't there a difference that we are seeing stagflation, high inflation seeing stagflation, high inflation and the economy not going in the way it should be. Therefore we are getting the job losses we are seeing and unemployment going up every month under this Labour government. Unless the government does something drastically different, this is only going to get worse rather than get better, which impacts growth prospects and our prosperity, not only of our nation but the individuals who work and try to thrive here.



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Is right, we are seeing high inflation, we are seeing anaemic inflation, we are seeing anaemic inflation, we are seeing anaemic growth, we are seeing the pound plummeting in recent times. All of those are signals on the dashboard that are flashing red. Instead of getting a grip on spending and getting a grip on spending and getting taxes down, this government has been out their pitch rolling yet more taxes. Over the summer we have seen their briefings into the press of suggested tax rises on property.

The party opposite has an opportunity this afternoon to rule opportunity this afternoon to rule those possibilities out and we should look to the Minister when he should look to the Minister when he responds to do just that. There has responds to do just that. There has been a suggestion that there will be changes to private residents leave changes to private residents leave under the capital gain system -- under the capital gain system -- relief. People being penalised for selling up and moving home.

It would selling up and moving home. It would have clear implications of bringing up the property market, it would have clear and economic implications for causing friction in the process of people moving from one part of the country and the others, often in search of work. It would mean that where downsizing will be beneficial in providing more homes for people to live in, it would discourage that. The Prime Minister, before the election, said there never was a This type, so it does not need running out.

So let's rule it out in case anyone pretends that there was. Perhaps I could ask the Minister to confirm he still stands by the words of the Prime Minister? Secondly, an annual tax on homes, what a tax on aspiration, a tax on those people who have saved hard and managed to get onto the property ladder and then stop with annual taxes, what about those asset rich but income poor and cannot afford to pay and are expected to sell up? Will the Minister rule out that possibility and keep people's minds at rest? We hear also that it may be that we will be looking at changes to the gifting regime within inheritance tax.

They are not content to pulverise the farmers, they are not content to pulverise the family businesses, seeing those businesses and farms broken up when they are passed on from one generation to another because of the imposition of tax, something that it was the Labour government in the 1970s that brought in the reliefs this government has now chosen to abolish. I will give way in a second. Inheritance tax will double in its yield over this Parliament. And we say enough is enough on the side of the House.

We should not be punishing parents who wish to pass something on to their children. Socialists do not understand. We do not all understand as individuals, we work together as families and communities, we care about each other, we care about the people we love and it is right we have the opportunity to pass something on to

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them. I thank the shadow, it is such an important issue, properties and important issue, properties and assets are vital to people in the country, but specifically on the lifetime limit for inheritance tax lifetime limit for inheritance tax passing on, everyone will have heard the government telling farmers and family businesses they need to get family businesses they need to get their affairs in order and they need to plan, not having a limit on the lifetime cap is what allows them to lifetime cap is what allows them to plan.

If that is cut, that negates every argument the government has had in the last year as to why they had in the last year as to why they think they can justify the family farm and family business tax. In responding, can the Minister acknowledge this and rule out any

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acknowledge this and rule out any change to that cap that would penalised these family farms and family businesses? The honourable lady has put it

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The honourable lady has put it brilliantly. She is absolutely right. In their horror, in their recoil as some of the inheritance recoil as some of the inheritance tax changes, that is exactly what farmers and family business owners have been doing, thinking about the alternatives and the seven year rule alternatives and the seven year rule has been one of those alternatives and it would be really artless and extraordinarily cruel if this extraordinarily cruel if this government were now to shut that

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down as well. I am grateful to my right

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I am grateful to my right honourable friend and he is explaining the situation in his usual, powerful way. If this seems likely that this government does likely that this government does impose capital gains tax on persons principle private residence, will he then, as mitigation, consider then, as mitigation, consider whether there should be indexation allowance at least to provide some relief to the horror I fear is about to be inflicted on my constituents, my right honourable friend will remember that the Conservative government abolished that relief on government abolished that relief on property.

At least it would take the property. At least it would take the edge of the imposition of taxes on

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edge of the imposition of taxes on the sale of people's principle private residence. Visitors point in the usual

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Visitors point in the usual eloquent manner. That is a question for the Minister, perhaps when he rises he can rule out our concerns in their entirety. But in the event he cannot, perhaps he would choose to answer the inquiry. Is it not the case that there is a clear misunderstanding from the party opposite because they have no business experience, there is no business experience in the government when it comes to setting up properties, understanding the meaning of business taxes, it is simply not there.

Labour will be talking about taxing wealth, if you tax wealth, you will get less of it. It is estimated around 15,000 high net worth individuals have left our country under the period this government has been in power. The consequence of that is that the tax that have walked out of the door will require around one third to half a million people on average earnings to make up the difference. It is not a case of good riddance to wealth, it is a case of we should, as this party will, be the party that encourages and turbochargers it

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at every turn. I'm sure Hansard will correct me.

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I'm sure Hansard will correct me. My honourable friend made some comments around high net worth, comments around high net worth, high-value individuals. Particularly in my constituency individuals on low incomes, representing Peterborough with one of the highest levels of zero hours and chronically insecure work. Does he not agree insecure work. Does he not agree that his party often once all of the spending but none of the delivery for the funding to do that? He talked about reducing taxation on talked about reducing taxation on some of the higher net worth, can he some of the higher net worth, can he talk about which doctors surgeries in my constituency would receive cuts under his plans? Which individuals would receive protection from employment rights and how the from employment rights and how the people of Peterborough would be worse off, unless he wants to reduce the spending that would fix the foundations of this country?

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foundations of this country? He refers to spending and cutting

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He refers to spending and cutting spending. His party attempted to cut spending and entirely failed to do so. My point is, if he wants money so. My point is, if he wants money to spend on public services, he does need, he should worry about cutting need, he should worry about cutting welfare. I do not know how he voted when it came to putting that to the test in this House, but if he in anyway voted against his own government and getting on top of the welfare bill, he should ask his question of himself.

When it comes to those on low incomes, they are precisely the people who are being devastated now by the National Insurance increase. Because what we know is it is not just an increase in the rate, it is a reduction at the threshold that national insurance now kicks in. That means higher unemployment, particularly amongst younger workers, part-time workers, women, people getting vital first job so they can get themselves on a career path. They are the people that his government are publishing most.

I give way.

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Iron grateful to him for giving way. Isn't this the point, one percent income tax is paid for by... percent income tax is paid for by... One percent of the top earners pay One percent of the top earners pay most 30 percent of income tax. If we lose those people, we damage the very people who need that support and the investment from the very and the investment from the very taxpayers we just scared off. Should taxpayers we just scared off.

Should the reverse beat happening? We attract more people into this

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attract more people into this country to spend more money to have more money for those services through tax cuts? Is absolutely right. I already

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Is absolutely right. I already shared with the House that classic example of the number of people who example of the number of people who have left this country because of a

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have left this country because of a punitive tax regime and the cost. I will give way. Further to my honourable friend's excellent point, the party opposite denigrates wealthy individuals that denigrates wealthy individuals that choose to come to this country, it is not just the tax they provide but the jobs and opportunities they create by investing in create by investing in constituencies up and down the country. This country has prospered for hundreds of years by being open for hundreds of years by being open and welcoming to inward investment.

If we lose that, we lose a key plank of the competitiveness and growth we

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associated with our economy. We live in a highly mobile world,

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We live in a highly mobile world, it is quite easy for people with substantial wealth or money to invest to go anywhere in the world. We have to remain competitive. But We have to remain competitive. But this government is making a mess, this government is making a mess, she mentions unemployment, should we have expected more from this have expected more from this government? Not really. Every Labour government left unemployment higher government left unemployment higher when they left office than when they when they left office than when they came into office.

What we see on unemployment? Since the government has been in office it has increased every single month since they have

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every single month since they have been in power. I give way to the honourable lady. He has spent his last five minutes circling around figures gathered by a consultancy that aids gathered by a consultancy that aids the super wealthy to migrate from this country. Where is the Conservative party getting its Conservative party getting its economic ideas from? It speaks volumes he has spent so much at this volumes he has spent so much at this point speaking for the 15,000 high net worth individuals served by that consultancy, what will the Conservative party do to grow the Conservative party do to grow the economy for the benefit of all economy for the benefit of all

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The honourable lady asks where we are getting ideas from - we are not getting them from those now sitting getting them from those now sitting on the Treasury front bench or in on the Treasury front bench or in places around Number 10 and to talk regularly about taxing wealth, regularly about taxing wealth, property, shares, assets of any kind they can think of. That is the road they can think of. That is the road to ruin. She asks about where we get our ideas, I got mine in the 1980s, setting up my own business from nothing, it from scratch, to get to nothing, it from scratch, to get to America, drawing a business there.

-- Taking it to America and growing my business there and I speak to the people who start businesses and they people who start businesses and they are the people that understand what has to be done on the tax front and the people that have to live with the people that have to live with the red tape that they are party is bringing in -- red tape that her

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bringing in -- red tape that her party is bringing to tie them down. He has talked at great length

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He has talked at great length about taxing the wealthy and has admitted one suggestion that has admitted one suggestion that has come forth over the summer, getting rid of the punitive council tax system, that puts attacks on poverty and deprivation and the former leader of the council famously leader of the council famously cheers when he put up council tax on deprived people in Hartlepool and now he has defected to the four and

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Reform. We do not want reform and change

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We do not want reform and change to be static but when it comes to the level of council tax to which the honourable gentleman referrals, if you take the average amount, it is demonstrably higher than the equivalent taxes in conservative equivalent taxes in conservative areas and that comes down to the approach that the Conservative approach that the Conservative Council takes to spending and making Council takes to spending and making sure things are run fairly and it is the opposite of the approach of the party opposite.



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party opposite. One suggestion the government had earlier this year was from a Conservative county council to suggested increasing council tax and that was blocked by the government that was blocked by the government and Secretary of State. Will you join me in condemning the proposal join me in condemning the proposal

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join me in condemning the proposal to increase council tax by 15%? I will not get into specifics in

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I will not get into specifics in his area. Why would I be expected to comment on something of that nature comment on something of that nature in his constituency? My general point stands that it is a simple fact that Labour -controlled local authorities charge more for our councils.

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Can I just say that you cannot just stand up like that.

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just stand up like that. In fact, that is not a fact and,

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In fact, that is not a fact and, in my vision, the reality is that Milton Keynes, the local authority Milton Keynes, the local authority run by Labour, has lower tax than all surrounding Tory authorities all surrounding Tory authorities including Northamptonshire, which has failed again and again and two has failed again and again and two macro -- reform-run councils, two macro -- reform-run councils, two and the Labour-run councils are doing better than those run by the Conservatives.

Even if the assertion

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was true, it does not contradict the point that I made. It was this Prime Minister who

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It was this Prime Minister who said, "Not a penny more on council said, "Not a penny more on council tax." Is the Shadow Chancellor aware

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of how that worked? Badly. Returning to the previous point,

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Returning to the previous point, this whole debate is premised on media speculation and asking for comment on a proposal made to the comment on a proposal made to the government to increase council tax government to increase council tax by 15% by a county council run by the Conservatives. He asked us to comment on media speculation but comment on media speculation but

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will not comment on a proposal. I have been clear and I must make progress because I have been progress because I have been generous on interventions. With council tax, it's a fact that councils controlled by the Conservative party charge less and that is because the whole approach that is because the whole approach to running the council, our approach the economy, is to make sure it is done efficiently and we do not done efficiently and we do not impose undue burdens on people with unnecessary tax.

We were told in the first budget by the Chancellor in first budget by the Chancellor in the autumn that the tax hikes were a the autumn that the tax hikes were a once-N-R-Parliament event. It is a The uncertainty that has flowed from the disaster situation has caused issues with property transition, choices, and on some of the freedoms that as citizens we often take for granted. That is because of the choices of Labour. The party opposite will desperately dismiss all of this as press speculation and I expect to hear that from the Minister in a moment is it not the truth that this sorry tale is entirely of their own making and the inevitable result of their choices and the failure that has followed, with much of the speculation seeming to be fuelled by briefings from within government itself? This House and the public deserve answers.

The Chancellor cannot borrow more and has shown no ability to control spending. That can only leave tax. spending. That can only leave tax. Which taxes will it be? Are family Which taxes will it be? Are family home safe? If we vote for the simple measure, it is clear, under this government, nothing is safe, not your home, pension, savings, business, farm, that which you simply wish to pass on to you until. The message to hard-working people across the country could not be more clear - Labour will always dock hard choices and will tax the living daylights out of the future of your family to pay for their failure.

family to pay for their failure.
13:24
James Murray Portrait James Murray MP, The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Ealing North, Labour )
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I am sorry, I hope someone did

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not say, "Hypocrisy." I would like to thank the audible

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I would like to thank the audible member for Central Devon for opening the debate and I can see he has been the debate and I can see he has been polishing his rhetorical flourishes during the summer but perhaps you could have spent his time more productively. Thank you for your congratulations and it is an honour congratulations and it is an honour to be here as Chief Secretary to the Treasury and I pay tribute to the Treasury and I pay tribute to the new Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, my predecessor, for his work on the Spending Review and I welcome my honourable friend to his welcome my honourable friend to his new role, one which I enjoyed myself and I am sure he will be excellent and I am sure he will be excellent in.

Honourable members opposite will appreciate the emotion itself, as appreciate the emotion itself, as they had tabled to the house itself. they had tabled to the house itself. -- The motion itself will not improve tax measures and members across the House bill now that the across the House bill now that the government does not respond to speculation in advance of the Budget which has been announced today for which has been announced today for 26 November. This has long been the case and the right honourable member knows this well and also that it will be irresponsible to engage in speculation so, whatever political rhetoric he and his colleagues will use in the debate and regardless of how many variants of the same questions we hear in the debate, you will know I cannot engage in speculation about individual tax measures ahead of the Budget.



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He says he will not and cannot speculate on individual tax messages speculate on individual tax messages so will he deny that the Number 11 so will he deny that the Number 11 machine has not been leaking the stories to the national press over stories to the national press over the summer? I will not engage in speculation or the mechanics around speculation or the mechanics around that. They will simply have to wait until 26 November for the specifics of the budget at that point and then of the budget at that point and then I am sure they and his colleagues will have plenty to say.

Where I will have plenty to say. Where I genuinely congratulate the new Chief Secretary for the Treasury at the bulbous phantom honest and straightforward as a speaker in the straightforward as a speaker in the House. -- I have always seen him as an honest and straightforward speaker. Does he agree that in any process of fiscal consolidation, one process of fiscal consolidation, one must look at tax rises and spending cuts. Has been speculation about further measures on welfare - yes or

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further measures on welfare - yes or no, will they be under consideration? I thank him for his kind words but he will know that the welfare measures are being investigated by my right honourable friend through the review being undertaken and the government is determined to support people to get and maintain a job.

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What is not speculation is that the largest rise in property taxes happened under the Conservatives when Liz Truss crashed the economy when Liz Truss crashed the economy and increased interest rates for everyone in my constituency. On a everyone in my constituency. On a point of principle, will be ministers speak to the point that ministers speak to the point that different parts of the country have different house prices and that must be reflected in Treasury thinking be reflected in Treasury thinking when it comes to considering tax in the Budget this year?

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the Budget this year? He is absolutely right to remind everyone of the record under the everyone of the record under the short lived Prime Minister, Liz Truss, when the party opposite were Truss, when the party opposite were in power and I noticed they do not refer to that when evaluating the economic situation but the British economic situation but the British people will not forget. I read the people will not forget. I read the country, yes right, what we want to ensure we are building affordable homes in every part of the country and that is why one of the government priorities has been to and from the planning system to enable the building of 1.5 million enable the building of 1.5 million homes to ensure people can afford to live close to where they grew up and want to work.

I will give way one more time but I want to make progress.

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As pointed out, the government wants to build new homes and it is important that they recognise the important that they recognise the value of a home to a family, how important it is. On that principle, important it is. On that principle, because he has said he will not talk on specifics, but the principal, does he recognise taxing people's homes is something we should not

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pursue if we are a country that values homeownership? I gently remind the honourable

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I gently remind the honourable member that council tax exists in member that council tax exists in the country which is a tax on property and saw the principle of having some taxes on property is having some taxes on property is well established and has been for some time the audibility is tempting me to engage in more speculation but me to engage in more speculation but I will not do that. Not on issues that will be in the Budget.

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that will be in the Budget. De Mr is always generous with his time and I congratulate him on his time and I congratulate him on his promotion which is well. -- The promotion which is well. -- The Minister. In terms of services, under the previous government, hundreds of HMRC compliance officers, including my mother, were made redundant and we could not collect the council tax that was due. Is that part of the problem and what led to the black hole and finances the government inherited? Speak about the Minister should be

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short. Point taken. I thank him for the intervention and his mother for her service to HMRC in the past because service to HMRC in the past because they do a critical job in collecting the tax, which is important to funding public services and ensuring funding public services and ensuring the economy functions effectively. A government priority is to close the government priority is to close the tax gap which existed under the previous government and in the previous government and in the Budget, we set out plans to raise additional tax revenue of £7.5 billion to support people are getting jobs and investing in new getting jobs and investing in new technology to ensure people are paying their tax.

I will make some paying their tax. I will make some I must let my promise on that front. There are questions that the right honourable member Central Devon is honourable member Central Devon is asking today and he asked in his opening remarks and his colleagues with their sheets from the whips had been due to leave following up in the comments as well, as much which we cannot talk about today. There are of course other important facts are of course other important facts which he does not want to talk about stop which the British people have not forgotten.

The £22 billion black hole in our public finances, which the previous government hid from the light. The disastrous mini-Budget which cause damage to households across the country and to our reputation around the world. Stalled housing, unfinished infrastructure, public services brought to their knees by an investment and disinterest. They do not want to talk about these things because of course they are the legacy of the last government. We just found out today that the right honourable gentlemen does not even want to talk about things happening by Conservative councils, as my honourable friend the Member for Basingstoke raised so importantly in his contribution earlier.

Now they are in opposition his party and those in Reform are talking Britain down. They want to claim that down. They want to claim that Britain is broken. But I believe that Britain is unbreakable. Our country is full of potential, home to hard-working people, brilliant businesses, world leading universities and research institutions, cultural giants and the promise that if you work hard and contribute to the country, it will be a place where you can succeed. Yet undeniably, after 14 years of Tory mismanagement, far too many working people feel that the economy is stuck.

I hear from constituents... I have been asked to make some progress so I will return a little later. I hear from my constituents, as I'm sure many other people in this chamber do, they tell us that no matter how much effort they put in, no matter the effort they put in at work, the careful management of household finances and the diligent efforts to save for a brighter future, they do not yet feel they are getting enough in return and it has become harder to get ahead.

At the same time, our roads and railways seem slower and less reliable and our classrooms seem fuller last NHS has a massive backlog. The root cause of all this is the chronic underinvestment by the previous government. That underinvestment over many years has slowdown productivity growth to a rate not seen since the Napoleonic wars. Members opposite, I will give way.

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Can I thank the Minister for giving way. Would he agree with me that thanks to the tight fiscal rules that this government has introduced and the changes in the introduced and the changes in the Budget, my resident in Dartford, since the election, have seen an investment in the lower Thames crossing, something it wanted the 15 crossing, something it wanted the 15 years and was not delivered under the last government, £25 million the last government, £25 million hospital rebuilding project, Darren Valley, and a structure is fun, a £1 billion DfT structures fun, which billion DfT structures fun, which will repair the ruined Galley Hill Road in my Dartford constituency? It Road in my Dartford constituency? It is only thanks to the Government's rules and its budget changes that we see these changes, is that not right?

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right? I thank my honourable friend boys intervention, is absolutely right that it is only thanks to the fiscal rules which the Chancellor introduced at last is Budget and our decisions, the right decisions to make sure those fiscal rules are make sure those fiscal rules are nonnegotiable and will keep to them at every stage, it is only because of those decisions we have been able of those decisions we have been able to boost investment by £120 billion over the course of this Parliament.

And many other projects, including And many other projects, including those he mentioned and those in constituencies right across the constituencies right across the country that is the right thing for our country. We are talking about chronic underinvestment, we are tackling that. Both are making sure the Government invest across the country and we encourage private sector investment to get businesses across Britain growing. A very short

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one and then I must make progress. Thank you very much. With the Minister agree that taxation is intrinsically linked to economic intrinsically linked to economic growth and that there are already green shoots of recovery in the

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green shoots of recovery in the economy, with three trade deals and five interest-rate cuts? I thank my honourable friend for

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I thank my honourable friend for her intervention and she is her intervention and she is absolutely right. The critical to our plans is economic growth. She pointed to the trade deals we secured and she will know, as other Honourable members will also, the UK is the fastest growing G7 economy in the first half of this year. There the first half of this year. There is much more first to do but we are showing that because of the right decisions we have taken, we are starting to move in the right

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starting to move in the right direction. I'm going to make... Ok, I will give way one more time and then I promise... I do not want him to speculate

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I do not want him to speculate but I do want him to consider something. We talked about people something. We talked about people not paying taxes. A significant minority of second homeowners in my constituency let their property out for just a few days a year and as a for just a few days a year and as a result claim to be a small business, pay no council tax and Pena business rates. So people working on the minimum age in my constituency are minimum age in my constituency are subsidising things people to pay no council tax at all.

-- On the minimum wage in my constituency are

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subsidising those people to pay no council tax at all. I should congratulate the right honourable gentlemen of an inventive way of inviting to speculate on tax way of inviting to speculate on tax measures. I am aware of the issue he points to and I thank him for raising it in this context but of course I'm not able to make any course I'm not able to make any decisions on taxation at the Dispatch Box today. Going back briefly to the broader context because it is absolutely crystal because it is absolutely crystal clear, both from the right honourable gentlemen's opening remarks and indeed all of his remarks and indeed all of his colleagues have been saying so far that members opposite are still in total denial about any total denial about any responsibility they have for the situation the country finds itself in.

They act as if being behind the in. They act as if being behind the wheel for 14 years is irrelevant to where we find ourselves now. It may be that they think that if they do not talk about it the British people may forget the last government's responsibility to getting us into the current situation. But the the current situation. But the British people know that the Conservatives did this to our country. And that is why at the last country. And that is why at the last election they put their faith in us.

And whilst there is clearly more to do to bring down inflation and the do to bring down inflation and the cost of borrowing, it is also clear that we have turned a corner by taking the right decisions for our taking the right decisions for our country. We have taken the decisions to address the black hole in the public finances, to fix our foundations and to clear up the mess we inherited from the previous government. As a consequence, as I mentioned a moment ago, in the first half of this year we were the first is -- fastest growing economy in the G7, outpaced France, Germany, Japan and United States.

Since taking office this government has welcomed around £100 billion of investment into the UK, with 380,000 jobs being created over the same period. We have Redtape and change planning regulations to deliver 1.5 million new homes over the course of this Parliament and already nearly 100,000 new homes on large developments that were previously stuck in the planning system or were simply not progressing as fast as they should be are now being given the support they need to make that progress quickly. Just over one year, the Bank of England has cut interest rates five times.

The fact that means that someone on tracker mortgage with just over £200,000 will be about £100 a month better off. And crucially, real wages have risen more in the time since the last election than they did in the first 10 years of the previous government. So, the choice at the next Budget is clear. Over 14 years the last government made wrong choices time and again. There many Prime Minister's and many chancellors all embraced a cycle of austerity, debt and decline. We will never repeat that.

We will continue to invest in Britain's renewal, using every power at our disposal to drive forward and economy that works for working people. As I said, the Government does not respond as regulation and especially head of Budget. In any case, we are not writing the budget this far out. The Budget the Chancellor delivers in November will be carefully considered and designed to get the balance right between making working people better off, raising enough money to fund our public services and to get the country moving once again through investment and growth.

And of course it will undergo proper scrutiny from OBR. I was going to briefly address the taxes which are in the motion but I suspect I shall skip over this part of the speech. I'm getting a gentle indication from you that I have come to the right conclusion there. So, to conclude, if we are to get this country moving again, then investment both from businesses and from government is essential. We must therefore strike the right balance in our tax system, so we can put more money in the pockets of working people, while supporting the private sector to invest in growth and funding our public services.

Members on both sides of the House will have their own views on what the right balance is and I look forward to hearing

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those whose today and may I thank both honourable and right honourable members in advance for their contributions. Before I called the Liberal

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Before I called the Liberal Democrat spokesperson, all backbenchers will be on a time limit

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of four minutes. Four minutes. Thank you. May I start by adding

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Thank you. May I start by adding my voice and that of my party to others who have welcomed the honourable member for Chipping
13:40
Daisy Cooper Portrait Daisy Cooper MP (St Albans, Liberal Democrat)
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honourable member for Chipping Barnet to the Frontbench. Property taxes in this country, like so many other things, are broken and are hopelessly out of date. Council tax is regressive. Stamp duty is a transaction tax that slows growth. And business rates are a tax on bricks and mortar that bears no relationship whatsoever to the amount of money that a business might make. I have to say that it is quite extraordinary, I think, that the official opposition have chosen to debate property taxes, given that I can barely remember any discussion at all in the last Parliament about things they wanted to tackle.

They particularly did not tackle any of those three. So if it is true that the Labour government is now thinking about biting the bullet and looking at bringing forward fairer alternative to these, then I commend them for looking at this issue. But I would caution government. We do not want to see a repeat of the jobs tax fiasco. Going after property simply as a Treasury tax grab would be a disaster if the government does not set out a broader vision for housing as a whole and full property taxation.

Thus McFall property taxation. We agree with parts of the Conservative measure today. We agree with their cool to rule out Capital Gains Tax on primary residences. In the general election we Liberal Democrats that our way of reforming Capital Gains Tax in a way which will be fairer, it would reduce capital gains for two thirds of people already paying it, it would increase it the super wealthy and it would have raised more revenue than from the measures, carte blanche measures the Labour government had pursued.

So we agree with that. We also agree with the Conservatives that the property levy, as has been described in newspapers, would be a disaster. It would... It was not people from downsizing, it was slow economic growth. I hope it Ministers are indeed considering any of these

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things that they look at the reaction of... In my constituency, the average

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In my constituency, the average

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In my constituency, the average house price is £515,000. Would she agree with me that the property tax, as described by the government so far, would in fact be a tax on the far, would in fact be a tax on the south-east and London?

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I absolutely agree with my honourable friend. And he will know, as I do in my own constituency of Saint Albans, but there are many Saint Albans, but there are many people who have spent decades and decades and decades living in the property. They might abort it for a few thousand pounds, now it may be few thousand pounds, now it may be worth a huge amount. But they might be asset rich and cash poor. -- They be asset rich and cash poor. -- They might have bought it for a few thousand pounds.

They are incredible scared report they have seen in scared report they have seen in newspapers about the potential tax as has been described. So, there are as has been described. So, there are parts of the Conservatives motion that we agree with. However, we are open to the idea, in principle, of a land value tax. Because land value land value tax. Because land value taxes can in principle create more taxes can in principle create more fairness in the system. And they can produce a more efficient use of land.

But of course the devil is always in the detail. So it would depend on the design of any particular land value tax, any exemptions might be introduced. We Liberal Democrats have set our policies before about how we would replace the broken business rates system and replace it with a commercial landowner levy. This is an example of how the principle of land value could be applied to commercial land. If potentially also...

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Thank you. Many tourism industry businesses in Torbay raise concerns businesses in Torbay raise concerns around Airbnb and the impact both on safety and legality. Surely the safety and legality. Surely the Government should be publishing Government should be publishing their long awaited short-term lets registration scheme with a matter of urgency.

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urgency. I absolutely could not agree with my honourable friend more. I absolutely would love to see this registration program but we Liberal registration program but we Liberal Democrats have repeatedly said that is only the first step. Registration is actually something that the Airbnb type platforms want to see Airbnb type platforms want to see because it actually enables them to go and pinch properties from other platforms. It does not solve the platforms. It does not solve the problem which we have of lots of additional homes being used for Airbnb's not being used a young people and in fact anybody who wants to be able to rent a property in the to be able to rent a property in the area.

It is important local authorities have the power to get balance between tourism and having the people they need in their local area who can a full to live there.

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area who can a full to live there. I'm really grateful to her for giving way, she makes and its really giving way, she makes and its really good point. In my constituency we have seen a collapse in the long- term private rented sector, which has pushed hundreds of people in our communities out of our communities, not able to contribute or be part of the workforce or send a chill into our schools. The answer surely is to create short-term lets as a separate category of planning, just a second homes.

That would allow councils National Park to make sure there was enough homes for local people to

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live in. I grew my honourable friend and in the British Parliament there are in the British Parliament there are a number of amendments were tabled previous legislation the Conservatives had table, where we had tried to make that happen but had tried to make that happen but unfortunately they were not accepted unfortunately they were not accepted Going back to land value tax, it could also help with land banking. All of us in this house say we want All of us in this house say we want to build on brownfield first but the problem is that we have repeatedly tried to table amendments to make sure that local authorities can buy sure that local authorities can buy that land add land value rather than that land add land value rather than hope value by changing the way legislation works.

There are in principle some merit to this, principle some merit to this, considering a land value tax, but the devil will be in the detail. If the government 's forward proposals, the government 's forward proposals, we will scrutinise them closely. There is a couple of major omissions There is a couple of major omissions in the official opposition's motion. One is about business rates. Business rates is a broken system. We've heard repeated promises from the previous government and now this one about fixing business rates.

It's very disappointing that as yet we have not seen the ambition to replace business rates as a system. There is tinkering around the edges in the government's proposals, potentially making the worst comedy comes hospitality in particular. Another major omission is giving local authorities giving -- those

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real powers. I thank my honourable friend for

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I thank my honourable friend for giving way. Community land trust in my constituency is working to create my constituency is working to create much needed homes. They are often much needed homes. They are often hampered by access to finance and an outdated planning system. Does she outdated planning system. Does she agree with me that this government should focus on community-led development to deliver the much- needed homes, homes that the community will actually appreciate community will actually appreciate and want in the areas?

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and want in the areas? I agree with my honourable friend. Today, we are discussing friend. Today, we are discussing property taxation but taxation on property taxation but taxation on its own may well lead us down a similar road to the jobs tax fiasco. similar road to the jobs tax fiasco. I know my own constituency... I know I know my own constituency... I know this issue of Airbnb is a particular problem. There was the approval for problem.

There was the approval for officers -- offices to be turned into blocks of flats but no powers were given to local authorities to control how that can happen. That means in my constituency many young people can't afford to have a job unless they're living with mum and dad. They cannot afford to even rent a place, let alone get on the housing ladder in the first place. It is essential that the Government comes forward not only with the registration scheme for shorter modules -- rentals -- for short term rentals but that we get back balance right between getting homes for young people and allowing people to live in areas where they want to, and having tourism on the other hand.

Thank you.

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I have to notify the House that the King has signified his Royal the King has signified his Royal assent to the following acts. Universal Credit that. Armed Forces Commissioner Act 2025.

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Commissioner Act 2025. Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity to speak in this debate opportunity to speak in this debate and I wanted to take on the challenge that the shadow Chancellor mentioned about how we got to this point and the devastating point and the devastating consequences of that. Despite 27 tax rises under the last government, rises under the last government, debt rose from 60% to 100.5% of GDP. They were borrowing for day-to-day They were borrowing for day-to-day They were borrowing for day-to-day spending.

-- 105%. He talks about commitments and we know about that
13:50
Emily Darlington Portrait Emily Darlington MP (Milton Keynes Central, Labour)
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commitments and we know about that because that was the £22 billion black hole in unfunded commitments. And he says that property ownership is something he really cares about, but they were responsible for 6% fall in homeownership for people aged between 25 and 34. This was under his watch. This Government is building 1.5 million new homes, including record numbers of council housing and social properties, as well as renters' rights reform, as well as looking into mortgage reform.

This is a fair and more affordable housing makes for all. -- mix. And when we talk about what drove that fall in people owning homes, young people owning homes, we have to look at inflation. Inflation peaked at 11.1% under the last Government, Conservative government. Almost hitting Margaret Thatcher's record of 17%. High interest rates seem to be something that the party opposite is very comfortable with. In 2022, food inflation hit a 45 year high. In 2023, the UK recorded the highest inflation rate in Western Europe, the only country to have double-digit inflation.

Under this government, in only one year, we have had five interest rate cast -- cuts. And the real cost of that can be found in the number of children living in poverty. There was a 20% increase in child poverty between 2014 and 2024. Feedback demand -- food bank demand rose by 3772 % under the Conservative Government. And 2010, approximately 2.3 children living in relative poverty. In 2024, that was 4.5%. That is shameful.

It was the biggest fall in living standards on record and it is now, under this government, that wages are finally rising faster than prices. And we have seen the results of those cuts in spending, particularly in areas like youth services, where they had a 73% real terms cut under the last Government. It is this Government that is putting millions of pounds back in youth clubs. Is that what you want to cut? Finally come I want to talk about businesses.

The shadow Chancellor stood up there and said there was nobody on this side of the house that had experience in starting a business, running a business and growing a business. I have done that. He should get to know his colleagues before he makes those assertions. 300...

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Thank you. After a summer of remote tax rises, my constituents remote tax rises, my constituents are deeply concerned. They are already paying more because Labour broke their promise to freeze council tax, because they broke their promise not to increase their promise not to increase National Insurance, because they broke their promises to first-time buyers, small businesses and farmers. Thanks to Rachel Reeves farmers. Thanks to Rachel Reeves antibusiness policies, growth forecasts are collapsing. Borrowing costs are skyhigh and our national costs are skyhigh and our national finances are short.

Instead of looking at the reckless decisions,
13:54
Peter Fortune Portrait Peter Fortune MP (Bromley and Biggin Hill, Conservative)
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looking at the reckless decisions, Labour are now calculating the best way to raise taxes. My constituents are now worried that the Chancellor is eyeing up the family home. On the edge of Greater London, homes and broadly -- Bromley are expensive. The average house price is well over half £1 million. Rumours that the government might scrap the private residence relief would be devastating. It would slap my constituents with an average £33 £33,000 tax bill if they sell the family home.

If someone has scrimped or saved, been lucky enough to see the value of the hunger, they should not be handed a punitive tax will. Only serves to knock people back down when they're trying to get ahead.

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Residents in my constituency have

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Residents in my constituency have also been hit by this and other taxes. Does he agree with me that this increase in poverty taxes will be the final straw that breaks the camel's back for many residents?

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camel's back for many residents? I agree that this is causing real financial hardship. However, I do financial hardship. However, I do not believe this is the final straw that the Mayor of London confined to that the Mayor of London confined to damage my constituents and yours. I still sure he has more stores to lay still sure he has more stores to lay on the camel. As I say, this irresponsible policy would be economically ruinous. Imagine if economically ruinous. Imagine if somebody bought a house in Bromley and 2010 for £3500.

Today, it would and 2010 for £3500. Today, it would cost in the region of 550,000. If they wanted to move to a new area they wanted to move to a new area for work to be closer to family, without that relief, the tax bill would be somewhere in the region of would be somewhere in the region of £50,000. That's an iron watering bill which stops people from moving bill which stops people from moving -- eye watering bill, which stops -- eye watering bill, which stops people from moving.

Working people cannot afford to keep bailing out Labour.

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Thank you. It's wonderful, really, to be back for another really, to be back for another
13:57
Mark Ferguson Portrait Mark Ferguson MP (Gateshead Central and Whickham, Labour)
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really, to be back for another Opposition They debate. -- day. Imagine a debate about imagined proposals. It must be difficult because for so many years, this would have been the time they would have been preparing for the conference, preparing for the Budget. But they are not writing the Budget anymore and there will be scant attention paid... Thank God they are not writing the Budget because we have seen what their Budgets have led to. But I understand the frustration.

It's nice to see they have settled into the most comfortable aspect of being in opposition. As I said before in some of these debates, I have a huge amount of experience of the comfort of Opposition. You talk about the fears that you have, you rile up a bit of concern about young supporters -- among your supporters. But what they are not willing to do

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country. They don't have any. My right honourable friend makes

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My right honourable friend makes a good point. This is the nature of a good point. This is the nature of the easy early years of -- opposition. They are unwilling to opposition. They are unwilling to say how they would pay for these ideas. I am sick and tired of listening to the never, never from listening to the never, never from the benches opposite about where they are very confident and they are very confident and comfortable with the imaginary -- comfortable with the imaginary -- imaginarium of the Budget, but they are unable to come up with real are unable to come up with real proposals.

We know some of the proposals that have been floated by the party opposite, whether that is cutting maternity pay, whether that has been testing the State Pension, has been testing the State Pension, or whether that is attacking the minimum wage. We also know what the minimum wage. We also know what the impact of a Conservative budget means. It means the grotesque chaos means. It means the grotesque chaos of this trust and Kwasi Kwarteng's budget. I would call it a bunch -- bombshell.

That bombshell is going off in homes and communities in this country every single day. Their families today on a five year mortgages or longer who would have had low interest rates now, but despite the five interest cuts under this government, will be paying hundreds of thousands -- or thousands of pounds more per year. I would simply say to members opposite, they express concern for those invaluable homes. Many of those invaluable homes will have understandably significant mortgages. Many of their constituents, who they are concerned about today, will have seen their mortgages go up in hundreds or thousands of pounds through the actions of government which we are still living with, and which I'm

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afraid is a consequence of their government. The Treasury has been flying

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The Treasury has been flying workout then Mary Poppins in the workout then Mary Poppins in the last few weeks. If they are true, the Chancellor is preparing the most the Chancellor is preparing the most destructive raid on homeowners in living memory. Families across my constituency are bracing themselves
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Gregory Stafford Portrait Gregory Stafford MP (Farnham and Bordon, Conservative)
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constituency are bracing themselves for new taxes on home -- homes over £50,000. Capital gains taxes, a revaluation of council tax and even a land value tax. This is not reform, this is a sledgehammer aimed at aspiration, mobility and stability. Once again, it is the south and the south-east that will be punished the most. And Farnham, were the average house price now exceeds 600,000, families could face annual bills of nearly £5000 on top of mortgages, council tax and energy The levies.

Thousand Spring Budget already stripped to the limit. What about pensions my pensioners and down sizes? They will face this

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prospect of capital gains tax on their primary residence. Talks about pensioners, does he

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Talks about pensioners, does he groove me this is an extra pressure for them, given all the pressure was put on them because of their winter

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fuel payments? My honourable friends aptly

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My honourable friends aptly right. Once again this government is showing does not understand, does not value pensioners in this country and the sacrifice they have done. and the sacrifice they have done. Everyone pensioners, farmers, small business owners are seen as a cash cow for this government. And as you

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rightly say... The Conservative government raised taxes 25 times in the last

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raised taxes 25 times in the last Parliament. How many of those tax rises did he oppose? I do not want to correct honourable gentlemen by was not here to oppose or support any of those. With I would gently remind him of, use the word gently because I know the honourable member on the the honourable member on the Frontbench loves the way gently, so I said it twice now, the reality was I said it twice now, the reality was there was a pandemic and had to be funded and dealt with.

There was a war in Ukraine had be funded and as war in Ukraine had be funded and as we have gone back in history a bit, we had to deal with the deficit of the last Labour government left us. That is the reality of the That is the reality of the situation. I have given way to a couple of times. This is a tax on the family home and it will hit hardest those who have worked hard, saved responsibly and played by the rules. Let us be clear, this is not simply a question of numbers on a ballot sheet, it is about whether families can stay in the communities where they raise their children.

Whether pensioners can pass on their homes and whether young people will ever see the ladder of opportunity came down again. A Capital Gains Tax on main home will trap people in their properties, create a locked-in market and dry up the supply of homes. Transactions will slow, chainsaw break and first-time buyers, the very people Labour claims to champion, will be shut out even further. The government has tried to defend this agenda by talking about fairness. But there is nothing fair about a pensioner in Gretton being forced to sell their family home to pay the taxman, there is nothing fair about young families choosing between childcare and a new annual property levy.

And there's nothing fair about placing the heaviest burden on one region of the country simply because its housing stock is high in value. In truth this is a South and south-east tax dressed up as national fairness. dressed up as national fairness. This is part of a pattern, from scrapping the pension of your allowance that my honourable friend mentioned, to threatening VAT on private schools, punitive business tax rises, every single decision there seems to be out sending a political signal rather than supporting families or growing the economy.

And the consequences are plain to see. Falling business confidence, another year of negative hiring expectations and growing unemployment. Wasn't there White Paper meant to be called great written working? -- Get Britain working? Are we are seeing is Britain driving to a halt. The Chancellor may talk of fairness that she is stripping away the last century of working people, the roofs over their heads. Over taxation without clarity will paralyse the housing market, punish my constituents and undermine economic stability. If you tax homes, you tax hope and that is the surest way to drain ambition from our country.

We should be protecting families, not forcing them to sell up. We should be supporting aspiration, not taxing it into extinction.

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I think it bears repeating

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I think it bears repeating exactly the record that we, the Labour Government, had to deal with when we took over last year. We have when we took over last year. We have seen, we have had theories of the relationship between tax and growth
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Louise Sandher-Jones Portrait Louise Sandher-Jones MP (North East Derbyshire, Labour)
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see the impact of that theory and ideology over the last 14 years. Austerities cut the engines of this economy, leaving us with public services that were not delivering services that were not delivering for British people. Investment in for British people. Investment in our services in our country was cut and it's left us at the mercy of and it's left us at the mercy of global shocks, meaning we are less well-prepared and less well placed to withstand them. The upshot is that my constituency of North East Derbyshire has been seeing GP wait lists far too long, bus routes disappear from rural villages that really need them to give opportunities and connect families opportunities and connect families across my constituency.

We have seen NHS waiting list up, whether for serious surgeries, NHS dentistry or GP access. What this has resulted in GP access. What this has resulted in serious ill-health issues across my constituency, restriction of constituency, restriction of opportunity for young people and across the whole of North East Derbyshire, restriction on opportunity and growth are the very people that will drive growth in this economy, those who will start and drive small businesses. We've heard again and again from the heard again and again from the benches opposite about how they support the 1% and they have come support the 1% and they have come out fighting for that 1% very hard to date indeed.

-- Today indeed. They are very concerned about charges on people just starting out in life, who have just bought their first homes and yes, I would love to talk about charges that bear no resemblance to service and I'm particular referring to fleecehold and charges by estate management companies that there no relation to the services they provide. This is a real problem in my constituency and I know many of my colleagues here on the benches have also raised it repeatedly. In my constituency, a particular company have repeatedly raised service charges, said service charges are providing services that the constituents had not received and for very spurious reasons.

I've also heard about some residents are being. Play -- forced to pay for a playpark where there's no one in the area. Those starting out who got their mortgages on homes and want to get on and live their life they have been subject often thousands of pounds each year which is not delivering the services they deserve. I know this is a problem elsewhere. You have heard horror stories of how charges and ground rents have risen exponentially. None rents have risen exponentially.

None of these problems, which I think we can all agree is a problem, was dealt by the previous Conservative government. I did not notice any particular concern raised about the mother time and I know it is an issue we will continue to fight hard for and against on the side of the house. To conclude, I think a really important point when we look at what this Labour Government have achieved since coming to office, actually we have seen real wages rising faster than prices for the first time in a very long time.

Really cannot stress how important is we are seeing real wages rising. 3 million people across this country has seen the minimum wage rise. This is exactly the sort of thing that led me to join the Labour Party and is one of the proudest things I've seen we have achieved, wages for the poorest in society going up. Including those starting out their very first job, those under 21. I would also like to highlight another massive achievement we have done, we in the achievement we have done, we in the Labour Party believe that taxes is what you take to make sure you can deliver public services.

Lower taxes and lower public services are not going to result in a better rising living standards for those across our country. Yes, we have had to make some difficult decisions but what we have seen is the NHS waiting list falling month after month and I know my constituents have already

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started to feel that, why? Because they have told me so. (SPEAKS WELSH). Can I refer to

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(SPEAKS WELSH). Can I refer to the House, register of financial interest. As we look forward to a Budget for Christmas, as a representative of a rural agricultural community, this Labour agricultural community, this Labour Government last Autumn Budget remains a significant concern. remains a significant concern. Indeed, the wide divide between rural Wales and Westminster was made
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Ann Davies Portrait Ann Davies MP (Caerfyrddin, Plaid Cymru)
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rural Wales and Westminster was made clear as day last year, when the Chancellor set out plans to restrict full inheritance tax relief from England next year to the first £1 million of combined agricultural and business property. Combining the APR and the BPR means that the asset value of the tools and the machinery necessary to operate a farm business are affected, as well as the agricultural land and. And while Government maintains that this policy will only affect around 500 estates a year and that the small family farms will not be affected, the farmers Union of Wales and NFU Cumbria's calculations show otherwise.

And when I told them Minister of food security and rural affairs that 92% of one local accountancy firms clients will be hit, it was totally dismissed by hit, it was totally dismissed by him. But now, even though the producers of the research used by this government to justify its plans have conceded that working farmers are more likely to suffer under the policy and the wealthy... Sorry, did you want to come in?

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I thank the honourable member for giving way. Over half of UK farms have a net value of over £1.5 have a net value of over £1.5 million. Farmers are already worried about family farm tax and no looking at the potential tax rises the government is floating for the upcoming Budget, seeing lower upcoming Budget, seeing lower rates... Increase rates for inheritance tax and other forms of property taxes. These are our food producers, they are right to be concerned about why they should

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concerned about why they should continue to sow the seeds. But she agree farmers need a break? Absolutely and I will come onto

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Absolutely and I will come onto that in a moment. In Wales it is between 75 and 90% of farmers are going to be affected by this, include -- according to NFU Cymru... include -- according to NFU Cymru... This would not hit tax avoiding wealthy landowners. In both it will punish working farmers in Wales, whose earnings dropped 34% larger, whose earnings dropped 34% larger, forcing many to sell what their parents and grandparents have spent lifetimes building. It is not just lifetimes building.

It is not just farm owners either, farmers business UK figures estimate these changes will cost 15.5 million reduction in GVA in my constituency alone. Along with the loss of 292 full-time jobs. From the implications of brutal restrictions, testing requirements to the effect of Wales hottest summer on record on crops and pasture, the new inheritance tax rules introduced admits mounting financial pressures on our farmers. And our rural businesses will also suffer, with car garages, food wholesale businesses,... Product businesses amongst those in my constituency hard-hit by this government BPR changes and all employing hundreds of my local constituents.

We cannot afford to lose our rural businesses or our family farms, we cannot lose the knowledge, the heritage, the community, the work that sustains and feeds our nation. And ahead of next year's Autumn Budget, at the end of November, I call on the government once again, please reverse these changes before it is

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too late. (SPEAKS WELSH). It is a pleasure to be called in

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It is a pleasure to be called in this debate, even if I muster by questioning the wisdom of the questioning the wisdom of the pursuit -- of the opposition's decision to bring this motion today, decision to bring this motion today, the memories and consequences of their so-called mini-Budget are still fresh. The culmination of Liz Truss economic policies, which the present Leader of the Opposition said were aspirational and inspirational, their dreams became our constituents nightmares. To say nothing of their failure to pass renters' rights reform, which this renters' rights reform, which this Government is now putting through or their dreadful record on wages which let people in Birmingham Northfield constituency with £300 a month less constituency with £300 a month less after inflation every month.

I cannot be reasonably denied or know cannot be reasonably denied or know cannot be reasonably denied or know they have tried that the incoming government last July faced a bedevilled inheritance and for all bedevilled inheritance and for all the sound and fury there's little mystery about this now. As Richard Hughes the chair of the obeah told the Treasury committee, when we the the Treasury committee, when we the OBR had a high trust relationship with the Treasury, those things were being well managed and managed being well managed and managed within the total, that system very clearly broke down.

-- Chair of the OBR. There was about £9.5 billion of net pressure on departments budget which they did not disclose, which under the law and under the act they should have done. What a disgraceful set of affairs. Our decisions on public sector pay had been ducked and delayed until after the election, we need to be clear about this. Conservative Ministers already knew the recommendation of the School Teachers' Review Body. They knew too that the recommendations of each pay review body tend to be similar to the other.

And why were those recommendations delayed? Remembering that the pages that's Remembering that the pages that's not in July or even at the beginning of Pre-election period but in April. It is because Conservative Ministers and the Department submitted the remit letters and their evidence late. As the office of manpower and economic said in 2022 efficiency review, the work of the PRB is man led an essentially nonnegotiable department set remit and timetables. So there we have it, that additional cost was always coming and the only reason why it was seven months into an election year was because Conservative Ministers were content for it to be so delayed.

Now to date the opposition frontbench claim that they would have rejected those they would have rejected those recommendations but not once has any member of the opposition had the member of the opposition had the courage to say how much less they would have paid to nurses, paramedics, teachers, police officers and Armed Forces personnel in each of our constituencies. Perhaps it is a member of the opposition who will be able to enlighten us today. The reality is enlighten us today. The reality is that they want the investments that means that 25,000 fewer people are on a University hospitals Birmingham on a University hospitals Birmingham waiting list compared to last year and which has almost doubling the free school meals entitlement in my constituency of Birmingham constituency of Birmingham Northfield but they do not support a single measure to pay for it.

We should be clear in saying that strong public services create value, businesses and working people in all businesses and working people in all our seeds need roads, schools and hospitals that are resourced and hospitals that are resourced and hospitals that are resourced and
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Laurence Turner Portrait Laurence Turner MP (Birmingham Northfield, Labour)
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He represents Birmingham Northfield. Does he believe that residents in Birmingham deserve to get their bins collected as part of the council tax payments?

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He tempts me to draw into a discussion which I don't have enough discussion which I don't have enough time to do justice to. Of course, we time to do justice to. Of course, we need a bin service that is fit and decent. I've spoken many times for that in this House. What my constituents did not need were the constituents did not need were the sharpest cuts in resourcing of any unitary authority in the entire unitary authority in the entire country, coupled with the sharpest country, coupled with the sharpest increases in council tax signed off by Conservative Ministers.

I have in front of me the impact assessment from the 10% council tax and trees from the 10% council tax and trees -- increase last year. It says this. -- increase last year. It says this. Ministers across government say that Ministers across government say that Number 10 clearance will be needed. Number 10 clearance will be needed. That is the legacy of his party to my constituents. The highest spending cuts and the highest tax spending cuts and the highest tax rises. The last thing that they need is a return of the failed approach of the party opposite and they of the party opposite and they deserve to be reminded of that every time they bring a debate back to this House.



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this House. Thank you. This Government was elected on manifesto to increase spending by night .5 manifesto to increase spending by night £0.5
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Ashley Fox Portrait Sir Ashley Fox MP (Bridgwater, Conservative)
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billion. -- £9.5 billion. This was billion. -- £9.5 billion. This was all set out in the Labour manifesto. It was a modest amount with the It was a modest amount with the prudent margin. Exactly the sort of plan you expect a party in a position to put forward to show that position to put forward to show that they can be trusted with running public finances. Numbers opposite public finances. Numbers opposite might reflect that had they implemented the plan, British economy would be in better condition than at present.

In labour's first than at present. In labour's first body, the increased public expenditure not by night £0.5 expenditure not by night £0.5 billion but by 70 billion -- 9.5 billion but by 70 billion -- 9.5 billion but by 70 billion. Pay raises for train drivers with no raises for train drivers with no strings, pay raises for junior strings, pay raises for junior doctors, more money for Great British Energy, more money for the British business bank. Also, more British business bank.

Also, more money... We all know how the story money... We all know how the story ends. Labour will use all the business acumen that the Cabinet has at its disposal to create a modern version of that. It's what Labour does best. Spending other people's money and borrowing yet more money that other people's children can repay. This extra spending and borrowing comes at a price. And the Government is now playing 5.7 % interest to borrow money for 30 years.

That is the highest level since 1998. And this surge in borrowing costs reflect the macrocosmic lack of confidence in the Transfer's activity -- ability to manage finances. -- The Chancellor's ability to manage finances. This surge is entirely due to the Chancellor using control of public expenditure and the increased cost of servicing our national debt adds a further pressure on the British taxpayer. Having presented her budget, the Chancellor said, "We are not going to be coming back with more tax increases or indeed more borrowing." But the problem is no one believes her.

The markets don't believe her and Labour backbenchers certainly don't believe her. They know now that they only have to threaten on any item of public expenditure and the Chancellor will cave. As we saw in the welfare reform bill brought forward to save a modest £4.5 billion. What happened? The first with over a the -- the first whiff of a rebellion in -- the first whiff of a rebellion in the government backed. We saw a briefing from the Treasury testing the water on a whole series of potential tax rises.

Higher rates of council tax, a land value tax, Capital Gains Tax on family homes, low income threshold for inheritance tax, and an annual property levy on the family home. No wonder the Minister is being so careful about which of her many homes is her private residence. The Chancellor is clearly desperate to raise more money. It is a cruel irony, is it not, that having invented the £22 billion black hole to justify her taxing and spending, the Chancellor now finds herself facing a black hole entirely of her own making.

It is her job stacks and other tax rises that have caused the economy to slow and unemployment to rise. Her increase in public expenditure has fuelled inflation which has led to higher wage demands and increased benefit costs. I will give way.

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This is exactly the problem because many businesses in my constituency and others are saying constituency and others are saying to us as members of Parliament that they're wanting to invest but do not they're wanting to invest but do not invest in growing their businesses because they do not know about the increases in taxes that are coming down the line from this Chancellor. down the line from this Chancellor. Does he share my concern the businesses are reluctant and businesses are reluctant and

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businesses are reluctant and investing right now on projects they want to deliver for growth of their own enterprises? I agree with my honourable

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I agree with my honourable friend. It is the threat of higher taxes that is causing the economy to stall, and rather than reducing the stall, and rather than reducing the size of the state, so it is affordable, the government gives every indication of wanting it to grow further. The fundamental reason grow further. The fundamental reason why this government needs to raise taxes is that it is incapable of controlling the fiscal incompetence controlling the fiscal incompetence of its own backbenchers. Labour MPs genuinely believe the state can genuinely believe the state can spend our constituents money better than they can spend it themselves.

They don't believe in thrift or self-reliance, they see no limit on self-reliance, they see no limit on the size of the state. On the side of the house, we know it is this month and business women across Britain who create wealth and growth. Success is the result of hard work, taking risks, satisfy your customer, employing your neighbour. Government should provide the environment for those businesses to thrive, rather than threatening every part of the economy with higher taxes.

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Thank you. This motion that we debate today as my Honourable friend debate today as my Honourable friend point it is based on media speculation. It also conveniently speculation. It also conveniently overlooks the Conservatives own disastrous record. Let's not forget it was the Conservatives who
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Luke Murphy Portrait Luke Murphy MP (Basingstoke, Labour)
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it was the Conservatives who presided over 14 years of failure, during which the very foundations of our economy rotted away. It was under watch that taxes were increased 25 times in the last Parliament. Cost of mortgages soared and crippled family finances all over the country. We heard members opposite talking about the pandemic, Russia and Ukraine, and some of them acknowledge the travesty that was Liz Truss. Report from the Treasury committee cross-party in 2021 highlighted that the OBR had been warning about "Unsustainable fiscal trajectory" Since 2011.

The government had failed to engage with government had failed to engage with that fact. Who was the Chair making that crude analysis? It was of course the shadow chancellor. Before we got to Russia and Covid, we got to the disaster of -- and we got to the disaster of Liz Truss, the Conservatives had already been mismanaging the economy. Now they come to this house to complain about a budget that has not even been written with no economic plan of their own, and continuing to make unfunded promises.

This Labour government took immediate emergency action to stabilise economy, make difficult but necessary decisions. We are already seeing the early signs of promise. Wages are now rising faster than prices. We've had five interest-rate cuts bringing down the cost of mortgages, and we have secured three major trade deals.

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I'm grateful for giving way. Many of his colleagues and he himself of his colleagues and he himself have referred to the reduction of interest-rate is being signs of a growing economy. If you even googled growing economy. If you even googled it, you would see that the reason it, you would see that the reason banks have reduced interest rates is because they are worried about the economy. Does he not realise that?

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I thank him for his contribution.

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I thank him for his contribution. The foundation is, of course, a stable economy and that is what the Bank of England has done. We are Bank of England has done. We are putting more money directly into people's pockets, lifting the minimum wage for 3 million workers and delivering three -- three -- and delivering three -- three -- free breakfast clubs for pupils. We are cutting through red tape, bringing in hundreds of new planning permissions and investing in permissions and investing in affordable housing.

We are committed affordable housing. We are committed to building 1.5 million new homes so people are not locked out of the dream of homeownership. We are putting crucial investment in extra capital investment right across the capital investment right across the country to boost infrastructure and catalyse high-growth sectors. Crucially, we have had to make difficult but fair decisions on taxation. Decisions that ensure the richest businesses pay more because we urgently need to invest in public services that the Conservatives ran into the ground.

Were putting vital investment into NHS and other services that my constituents tell me we need. It is only because of these revenue measures applied by this government, which the party opposite repeatedly opposed, that we are able to make that investment. As many other members have said, the party opposite want all the benefits of difficult choices but they refused to say how they would pay for them. They talk about growth, they consistently attempt to block measures and they have been holding our economy back for far too long.

As a minister and Chancellor have said, the next phase of this government is going to be focused on making working people better off, by improving living standards across the country, boosting British jobs and delivering the renewal a country desperately needs. We will not be swayed by motions of the party opposite based on their fantasies nor by those who offer no credible solutions themselves.

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Thank you. We are speckling today so I don't know whether I have to refer to my register of interests or not. I am a homeowner. -- not. I am a homeowner. -- Speculating today. The kids at Speculating today. The kids at Downing Street, they think it is clever to fight tights about tax clever to fight tights about tax rises. We had at last year, we had it from 4 July onwards, we had the it from 4 July onwards, we had the briefings to the press saying there are going to be tax rises because of are going to be tax rises because of the an entirely -- because of the entirely fabricated £22 billion entirely fabricated £22 billion black hole.

Tax rises which were not part of the manifesto. What was the
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Jerome Mayhew Portrait Jerome Mayhew MP (Broadland and Fakenham, Conservative)
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impact? The collapse of business confidence to pandemic levels and the collapse in consumer confidence and unemployment beginning its rise month after month for every single month this government has been in office. Now, they are at it again. They haven't realised from the past terrible mistake. There doing it once more. Despite raising taxes by £40 billion last October and increasing borrowing by another £32 billion, they have created a genuine black hole which research suggests is about £55 billion required from taxes.

The briefings have started again. Property levy on mansion tax, replacement of stamp duty, national insurance contributions on rental income, Capital Gains Tax and private residence with a value of more than 1.5 billion £41.5 million. -- More than £1.5 million. I will

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give way. Would he accept that speculation at all these new additional taxes causes more uncertainty and itself causes the economy to slow further?

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causes the economy to slow further? He is right. Do they not recognise that this posturing from the other side does not come for free? Construction activity has had a bigger fall recently than in the a bigger fall recently than in the last five years due to the leaks of last five years due to the leaks of number 10 and number 11. The commercial property sector is as -- is in recession. Staff are being is in recession. Staff are being laid off, people are losing their jobs because of the kite flying of the government.

Property prices had a surprise for last year. Growth is the number one priority, we ask to the number one priority, we ask to believe, by this government. They said they're going to build £1.5 million doing this government. Merely saying it does not make it true when your policies serve to do exactly the opposite. If you don't believe me, look at the markets. They are not politicians. Look at They are not politicians. Look at the 30 year guilt the government is paying today.

That is now running at 5.73%. That is the highest rate this century. Markets think that further tax increases will damage growth. That means it's going to damage the physical environment in the future. We will have lower tax in the future because the tax raising decisions that the government is apparently taking in November. Labour is planning literally to rob Peter to pay Paul. This is the way to run an economy. -- This is not the way to run an economy.

Stop now, stop before it's too late to avoid a vicious death spiral. --debt. I fear the government will be forced to cut spending. They have two choices. They can be forced by the markets in the Celtic fiscal event or they can take their responsibility of government seriously, take the difficult but necessary decisions on spending that the country needs them to take or they will be swept away

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I welcome my honourable friend and his well-deserved motion as and his well-deserved motion as well. We know when we share in growth we make this country more prosperous and stronger as well and prosperous and stronger as well and tax of course helps pay for the investment that does make us all investment that does make us all more prosperous. The previous government we do not invest in our country and we saw a weak nation as
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Jeevun Sandher Portrait Dr Jeevun Sandher MP (Loughborough, Labour)
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country and we saw a weak nation as a result. The highest energy bills in the G7, the worst waiting list we have ever seen in this nation and the worst transport infrastructure in Western Europe stop that is what this government is fixing and that is what we do with the taxes that we have raised. In the opposition motion today speaks of property taxes. This is from the party that the dream of homeownership for my generation. 40% of those who are under 30 living with mum and dad.

Young people living in big cities paying 40% of their incomes on rent, unable to save for a house because of the amount they are paying in housing costs. That is precisely the kind of thing we are fixing, we are investing to build social housing, £40 billion worth. But of course all of that needs to be paid for and that is exactly what we do with the taxes that we are raising. That is why we are proud of the country we are building, where every single one of us makes our is better off.

And the taxes we raise crucially follow three principles. Firstly that they are progressive and they raise more from those on higher incomes than those on middle and low incomes, that they are growth enhancing both in the way they are applied as one of the investment they paid for and that we can implement them easily. And those are the three principles that our taxes faced in the autumn. Closing non-dom loop hole of course for those at the top of society.

Ask the largest businesses to pay more so we can reduce our waiting list and increasing the taxes on second homes so we can build homes for every single person in this nation. There are never new -- the revenue raised from those who can most afford it to make everyone of us better off. That is what this government is about. On the other side wants to leave us with a nation where we are weaker, where we do not invest in our collective prosperity as they did over the last 14 years.

But we see instead of a nation that is united and sharing in our prosperity, one that is divided. The House is divided against itself cannot stand and a nation that is as divided as Alice's, this house will not stand as a result. It is rust to invest in every corner of this country, for every person to Bennett from and that is a Zackly what we are doing in our economic program. -- Benefit from and that is exactly what we are doing in our economic program and the investment were painful throughout taxes.

We build a stronger nation where each of the shares in our prosperity. And we help achieve this throughout taxes them will stop we investigate wages rising, to get waiting list down and to get energy bills down as well. A stronger nation where each of us is doing better. Raising living standards that will too long have far too low. Helping people able to afford a home, helping them to raise a family, helping them pay their bills without having to worry about their overdraft.

Sharing each of us in our nation's prosperity. That is what this government is doing, that is what we are building and that is what we are proud to be a part of. Thank you.

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Here we are, well over a year into this new administration, this New Labour government. And it is New Labour government. And it is clear that they have fundamentally mismanaged the economy in their
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Robbie Moore Portrait Robbie Moore MP (Keighley and Ilkley, Conservative)
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mismanaged the economy in their first year of office. And what do we see? Borrowing costs up, growth flatlining, taxes rising and businesses being absolutely hammered. And to fix this mess to the tune of 50 billion, who knows what it might be? Labour are now threatening to hike taxes on anyone that they have not already squeezed into submission already. It is clear that they are coming after your property. If it was not enough labour to literally legislate to Compulsory Purchase Order garden, your home, by giving local authorities and natural England more power through the planning instruction bill, not required at market value but at a disregarded value relating to agricultural property value if it is a farm.

If they do not manage to grab it, they are certainly intending on taxing it. -- Planning and Infrastructure Bill. If this tax in your home or your garden were not bad enough, Labour are often coming after your -- also coming after your business,... Business property relief, this government has destroyed one of the very sole business environment our communities, our businesses rely on. The ability to pass an asset on to your next generation and be able to earn an income from it.

Across my constituency we have seen soft furniture makers... To brewers, to farmers, to hotels, to those involved in the hospitality sector who are all actively taken the decision to slow amount of investment they are willing to put into the growth of their own businesses, why? Because of the threats that are coming out from the previous governments Budget back in October last year, the Labour government's budget and the Budget

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that is coming down the line. Are very grateful, he is making a powerful speech be mentioned the powerful speech be mentioned the hospitality sector. Does he recognise that the government's cruel decision to reduce the discount... Business rate discount the hospitality sector from 75% to 40% doesn't sound too bad there is 40% doesn't sound too bad there is actually an increase in tax of 140%

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on struggling hospitality sector, what does he think impact that has on future investment plans? My honourable friend makes a

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My honourable friend makes a valid point because many of our family businesses, whether in the hospitality sector or others are hospitality sector or others are actively withholding the level of investment they are wanting their investment they are wanting their business to grow and thrive. I have spoken to many farming businesses, many family businesses within my many family businesses within my constituency who have worked out what their BPR or ADR viability is likely to be over a 10 year plan likely to be over a 10 year plan going forward.

-- BPR or APR. And holding that level investment that they may have to give to the Chancellor and not investing it for Chancellor and not investing it for the future growth of their business. And that is not good for the health of the communities and the businesses that we represent. And then there is Council tax. With the then there is Council tax. With the looming threats their council tax revaluations are going to potentially come down the line. Raising the council tax liability on many of those constituents with properties potentially moving into higher tax band.

A Bradford resident, which includes those residents across Keighley, Ilkley... We have already had our council tax raised by 10% already and this is a threat that this Labour government is now putting up with council tax increases. And then there is business rates really being cut, impacting many of our businesses. Whilst there is threats coming down the line of the re-evaluation process taking place, I want to raise the case of the Valuation Office. Just this morning I spoke to the rock family, who have developed Providence Park in Keighley, with a huge amount of public funding going into this project.

Now being told, despite having this project completed in its construction phase in April earlier this you, that the Valuation Office, despite an application being submitted, is not even progressing with providing what the business rate liability will be. -- Earlier this year. Therefore the Tokmak family are not able as easily as they wish to be able to let those business premises. -- Rock family. I asked the Minister what is he doing right now to put pressure on the Valuation Office to get a grip, to pull their finger out and get those rates looked at? Not just for Providence Park but for those many businesses up and down the country that are struggling to get the level of understanding from the Valuation Office right now.

This debate is about property taxes. We know that this Government has an indication that they are going to come for property owners in this Budget that is coming down the line. They have indicated that already in the previous Budget the changes to inheritance tax. This Government must change course for the health, for the good of the economic

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prosperity of our country. I my family friends and people in my city saw first-hand the economic my city saw first-hand the economic failures and harms the 14 years of the last government did to people in this country. Our council services, our Armed Forces, public services, the SEND system, NHS waiting list, the SEND system, NHS waiting list, rent and mortgage cost, wages, harm to prison places, police numbers and to prison places, police numbers and safety on our streets. 14 years of made up unfunded promises and commitments.

14 years in which they commitments. 14 years in which they gave up on Pompey, they gave up on Britain and everyone in it, leaving us as a government to clear up this us as a government to clear up this mess. But 14 years cannot be cleaned up overnight. It takes time. But up overnight. It takes time. But cleaning we are. Can I welcome the investment in my constituency of investment in my constituency of Portsmouth North. 13.8 billion flood defences protecting our homes, 2.2 billion for the defence sector, billion for the defence sector, protecting jobs in my city and greater opportunities for our SMEs.

4.8 million for better buses, allowing better transport. 2.7
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Amanda Martin Portrait Amanda Martin MP (Portsmouth North, Labour)
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allowing better transport. 2.7 million for potholes to repair the crumbling streets we live in and stop the damage being done to our vehicles. 2.3 million upgrading schools and college buildings, so our young people have a safe environment alone. 1.9 additional SEND funding to start the process of patching up the mess the previous government said was a lose lose situation. 1.2 million additional funding for temporary accommodation to help how some of the most desperate families in my city. Solar panels on public buildings to reduce cost to protect Ian Byrne, safer streets programs in North Endang Cosham, in addition to named least

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officers. Free school meals to support... I just wanted to pick up a point that is being referenced on free that is being referenced on free school meals. These are not free. I spoke with a school in my constituency just last week which is now being mandated to provide the now being mandated to provide the so-called free school meals but this is having to come out of their own is having to come out of their own school budget. So, just slightly school budget.

So, just slightly change the narrative associated with this rhetoric that this Labour government is putting up.

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government is putting up. As a former teacher, no, free school meals, I will continue them. Breakfast clubs to support pupils Breakfast clubs to support pupils and families at the start of every day. Additional nursery allocations to help working parents with the crazy cost of childcare. Investment in our NHS. All of this because of a Labour government and because of two Labour government and because of two Labour MPs in Portsmouth. I could go on because this is the tip of the iceberg of the investment and initiatives very much-needed for the initiatives very much-needed for the people in my city.

All the reality, not imagination, not speculation, not political and on the words on the page of this motion today, not considering that action. None of this would have been possible without the decisions of this government. So I admit the difficult government. So I admit the difficult decisions and some have been very necessary, where we ask for the burden of taxing on the very wealthiest by private jet tax up 50%, stamp duty on second homes, changing inheritance tax on big landowners, non-doms status scrap, ending offshore trusts with inheritance tax avoidance and VAT on private schools.

I would like to ask the Minister, does he agree that investments like these in Portsmouth North are any possible because of the decisions, the actions we have taken to raise this revenue? Which the party opposite have repeatedly opposed. And in opposing and in bringing this, in the words of Willy Wonka, pure imagination debate, they appear to not even themselves to be considering an alternative but to be going back to the status quo of 14 years of cuts and damage, damage to Britain.

A debate that has been full of amnesia, sloppy... Sloping shoulders, no regret and not one apology. A debate set to talk written and its people down and a debate ignoring the most positive things this government has brought to the people in my city and this

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Here we are, another opposition day with a tedious motion from the
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Melanie Ward Portrait Melanie Ward MP (Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, Labour)
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day with a tedious motion from the party opposite that completely ignores the catastrophic and economic inheritance that they left this Labour government. Their decision to make -- put Liz Truss at Downing Street is something they can never quite live down. To be lectured on sound economic management by the party opposite... One of the Honourable gentleman stated that speculation about future measures damages the economy so why today then have they put down a motion that is entirely about speculation? It makes no sense, even on their own terms.

Their legacy has done untold economic damage to the UK's economic finances. The Chancellor is right to prioritise investment in public services while ensuring a sound economic management. They talk of wanting to put more money in people's pockets, yet they presided over the worst pay growth of any government for a century. Had the Conservatives, and don't forget for a while that liberal -- the Liberal Democrat government, crew wages at the same pace as the previous government did, the average worker would be better It is at this Labour government that is putting money in people's pockets.

Wages are rising faster than prices and 8000 low-paid fighters -- Fifers this year received a pay rise. Let us not forget that the leader of the opposition said the minimum wage is a burden and maternity pay is excessive. It's the Labour government 's stewardship of the economy means that interest rates have fallen and average mortgages are now over £1000 less then they were when the party opposite was in power. Again, real money in the pockets of constituents. My constituents in Kirkcaldy know that it is this Labour government and this Labour Chancellor that have prioritised Kirkcaldy for multi- billion pound regeneration funding as part of the growth mission fun.

This will begin the transformation of our town centre, which was neglected for a decade and 1/2 by the Tories and almost 2 decades by their enablers in the Scottish National party. The old cliche that to govern is to choose is correct. Politics is about choice and the difference between this Labour government and the party opposite is that we have chosen to invest in our communities, invest in our public services and invest in increasing economic activity and wages after they failed to do so under five prime ministers and seven chancellors.



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We now come to windups and I called the Shadow Secretary of State.
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James Cleverly Portrait Rt Hon Sir James Cleverly MP (Braintree, Conservative)
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State. Thank you. Before I get into my speech, can I genuinely welcome the speech, can I genuinely welcome the honourable gentleman to the Treasury benches and his position in the Treasury? I will give the house due notice. I do not intend to take interventions. He has got a tough enough job defending the indefensible as it is. I don't want indefensible as it is. I don't want to curtail his -- him. When given the opportunity, when given the opportunity, the Labour Party were very critical of us and it is only fair to say that any government, we did put up taxes more than we would have wanted to.

I don't remember at the time, when we were supporting businesses and individuals through businesses and individuals through furlough, members of the Labour Party criticising us for this. I don't remember when we were supporting people with fuel bills in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Labour Party criticising us. And yet there criticising us for putting up taxes when that is exactly what they're going to do later this year. If I'm wrong in my estimation, if I have been unfair, if I have missed categorised the heart and soul of the benches opposite, I will break the rule that I made just a moment ago.

I will take an intervention from anyone on that side who is willing to stand up and say they want to see taxes coming down. I thought not. This is the point. You had your chance. This is the point... This is the point. They point... This is the point. They love putting up taxes. Because the Conservative party put up taxes when we had to. They put up taxes at every chance they get. And the reason, the reason they put up taxes whenever they get the chance is because they think taxes are not a necessary evil but a good in and of itself.

And that is the heart of the problem. Because the fact that the gold markets, the bond markets, businesses and individuals now in the heart of hearts that taxes are going to go up under this government, that we have seen the government, that we have seen the stagnation and the stifling that the members and right Honourable members opposite criticising. We had a number of good and conventions -- number of good and conventions -- interventions from, I was about to say, both sides of the House.

I'm being generous. The simple fact of the matter is that a key indicator of confidence in our government is the cost of borrowing and that is at a multi-decade high. As we've said, it has not been higher this century. And it is trending in the wrong direction. The Bank of England, when setting interest rates, made it clear they are concerned about the trajectory and specifically on property taxes. Specifically on property taxes. The Treasury benches set the -- say they do not want to speculate.

They didn't want this house to investigate what they are claiming to be speculation. They probably shouldn't have spent so much time to think the media over the summer. They cannot have it both ways. We are asking legitimate questions of the government because the markets and the country are worried and we want to elate fears. , if we are going to address, as we should do, the slowing of the housing market, we should make sure, and I say we but they are in government, they should therefore make sure they do nothing to further stagnate the market.

And speculation that there will be a £14,000 tax bill in the UK on average. Are bill in the UK on average. Are potentially £30,000 tax bill -- A. They have the opportunity to put that speculation to bed and they choose not to do so. There is a lesson that they seem to have not learned despite the fact they are now in government. Which is when they speak... Markets move. That is the reason why speculation is so damaging on the government's side of the House.

They are causing economic problems because of their kite flying. We have given an emergency -- them an opportunity to put those migrations to bed and they have failed to do so. They want to put up taxes. They love putting up taxes and they are going to put up taxes.

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I called the new minister. Thank you. And may I also give my

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Thank you. And may I also give my thanks to the shadow housing secretary for bringing the debate to secretary for bringing the debate to a close today and for the welcome he has given me. I must also thank my has given me. I must also thank my honourable friend, the Chief honourable friend, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and congratulate him on his promotion to Cabinet. He was a fantastic Cabinet. He was a fantastic Exchequer Secretary. I also wish to Exchequer Secretary.

I also wish to put on record that although I may be standing at the dispatch box for the first time, my respect for this place and the members on all sides and on all benches will remain. The Commons is the heart of our Commons is the heart of our democracy, after. The importance of ministers being held to account here, MPs voting and debating on big here, MPs voting and debating on big issues and crucially the public issues and crucially the public being able to hold us all to account will never diminish in my mind.

I look forward to continuing to work constructively with members on all constructively with members on all sides as we discuss and debate the important and very interesting topic of tax policy. Under the leadership of the Chancellor and the Prime Minister, this government is turning the page on 14 years of economic struggle. We must put an end to the years of sluggish economic growth and squeezed living standards. Issues that typified the last two decades. We have to turn this country around and build an economy that works for everyone.

I will give way.

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I welcome my right honourable friend to his new position, which is well deserved. This motion gives the impression that the Conservatives impression that the Conservatives care about homeowners and renters. Does my friend agree that it is Labour who are giving homeowners Labour who are giving homeowners later powers and protections, giving renters stability and building 1.5 renters stability and building 1.5 million more homes to tackle the terrible housing legacy of the terrible housing legacy of the previous government? They did too little and we are sorting it out.

Does he agree? Does he agree?

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Does he agree? Thank you for that very kind intervention. I agree with every word. The subject of today's debate word. The subject of today's debate is, of course, taxes and which taxes may or may not change in the future. Let me be clear, I will not be Let me be clear, I will not be writing the Budget today or any day in this role. That is a job for the Chancellor and just as she delivered Chancellor and just as she delivered a budget which fix the foundations of the country last year, I'm confident that the Budget this year confident that the Budget this year will showcase the right choices for the country for the long term health of public finances and family of public finances and family finances.

Property taxes make a significant contribution to the public finances, racing more than £75 billion a year. Is crucial for funding our schools, our NHS, are emergency services, armed forces and filling in potholes. They help provide a broad tax base which underpins good fiscal policy. I know this is not something that the last government may have given much thought to. They were happy to run our economy and public finances into the ground, leaving us with £22 billion black hole to fill.

We believe in a tax system that is fair and sustainable and support economic growth. At the Autumn Budget in 2024, my honourable friend the Chancellor took a number of decisions to raise taxes on the wealthy to help fix public finances and support public services like the NHS and education. These tax changes included abolishing the non-domicile tax status, raising the rates of Capital Gains Tax, limiting inheritance tax reliefs and increasing passenger duty for private jets. Thanks to the work of my predecessor and the great work of the officials who I'm looking forward to working with at HMRC, we are also increasing work to make sure that the wealthy pay their fair share of the tax that they owe.

These changes and others that we have made demonstrate the fundamental truth of politics in fundamental truth of politics in 2025. Going. 2025. Going.
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Dan Tomlinson Portrait Dan Tomlinson MP, The Exchequer Secretary (Chipping Barnet, Labour)
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I'd like to congratulate him on his appointment. In the Labour manifesto, he will remember, on which he stood along with his colleagues, suggested there would be tax rises under a Labour government, and I think 7 billion. And in the event in autumn, 40 billion of rises came forward. Can the Honourable gentleman commit that the government will seek to be more transparent in the future in terms of preparing the market and indeed the people who have to pay them for tax rises?

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I thank him for his intervention. I would ask him if I could whether I would ask him if I could whether he could identify £40 billion of spending cuts if he wants to have 40 spending cuts if he wants to have 40 billion if he wants to have £40 billion of tax cuts because I do not want to see NHS waiting lists full want to see NHS waiting lists full in my constituency or indeed any other constituency. The changes other constituency.

The changes introduced demonstrate the introduced demonstrate the fundamental truth of politics in 2025. The bedrock of this Labour government 's fiscal responsibility. government 's fiscal responsibility. The cornerstone of the opposition's economic plans as fiscal fantasy. Members opposite are simply incredible to oppose every single incredible to oppose every single one of the tax increases that we one of the tax increases that we have put forward. That is coming to define the economic policy of the define the economic policy of the opposition.

It should concern us all opposition. It should concern us all at how serious they have become. It is clear the Conservatives are enjoying the comfort and ease of enjoying the comfort and ease of I think it is surprising the opposition would want to raise property taxes today given the abysmal record on property. A big part of the mandate this government was given was to build more homes. The public had grown weary after years of sluggish growth and overbudget projects that was stalled then delayed and they needed change, they needed us to build for the future again in this country.

That is what we are setting about doing. From infrastructure to planning reforms I champion for the last year and to our mission to build 1.5 million homes, we made this the heart of our approach. This will create jobs and opportunities for those who build, giving families and individuals the opportunity to call somewhere home. As I said when I stood a few rows back when I did my Maiden speech not long after the election, this essential to my politics. The aspirations of everyday families up and down this country.

To have a home to call their own, maybe with enough space for a garden and a spot to park the car in a community supported by public services that work. People do not want the world delivered to them in a plate by government, digital a good life for them and those they love. More housing and improving public services are essential ingredients to meeting the aspirations. I have many notes on all the fantastic contributions that were made on both sides of the House by can see from Madam Deputy Speaker, and I'm sure opposition whip, that it is almost time for me to come to a conclusion.

So I will say... Well, it turns out there is more time. Let me begin by saying that the Member for Milton Keynes Central made a very powerful intervention about the success of Milton Keynes Council and the importance of this Government in investing in public services. I thought the Member for Bromley and Biggin Hill, I cannot spot the member... There we go... Provided a powerful example in the example of house prices he gave from his constituency, of how prices have surged in this city, I know that representing a north London seat.

That is why we must build more homes, I hope the Member for Bromley and Biggin Hill will support all of the planning reforms that are making their way through this House and those that will come soon. Because we need that to ring down house prices and to support people in this country with their living standards. The Member for Farnham and Bordon made an interesting thoughtful intervention on support for pensioners. I believe you should talk to the shadow Chancellor, who has said the triple lock is unsustainable, something that we do not agree with on this side of the house.

A pleasant mention to the Member for North East Derbyshire and the Member for Loughborough and congratulate them on their marriage over the summer, fantastic to see them both contribute in this debate and they both bring so much to these benches and to this side of the house. Let me mention one more contribution then I will move to close, the Member for burning in Milford I thought had a very good line on Liz Truss. -- Birmingham Northfield. Which is that their dreams came our constituents nightmares and I think that is very true, something we know and I believe they know to and I will certainly be stealing that line for future contributions in this house.

To come to a conclusion, as the new... I struggle with this word sometimes it turns out, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, I look forward to returning to this place and to committee corridor on many occasions to discuss tax policy. The people of this country work hard for everything that they earn and they deserve an efficient and a fair tax system, be that on property or elsewhere, and for governments to spend every penny of public money wisely. That is why everything we do is underpinned by fiscal stability, sticking to our rules, managing the public finances in this uncertain world well, not turning to more borrowing as Liz Truss did or the Member for Clacton would do, but putting economic stability at the heart of all we do.

This is the foundation for what really matters. Higher growth, higher living standards in every part of the country. That is what this government is working every day to deliver. Lifting the crushing burden of the cost-of-living crisis, backing those who want to invest in the future of this country and giving as many people as possible a home that they can call their own. This is the future that I thoughtful on the backbenches and this is the future that this government can and will deliver.

-- That I fought for.

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The question is as on the Order Paper. As many as are of that opinion, say, "Aye". Of the
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Andrew Griffith Portrait Andrew Griffith MP (Arundel and South Downs, Conservative)
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can inform the house that Mr Speaker has not selected any amendments. I call the shadow Secretary of State to move the motion.

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Thank you. The great British pub, the family run restaurant, from the the family run restaurant, from the small seaside B&B to world leading hotels, hospitality businesses are the beating heart of our communities, our high streets and communities, our high streets and our economy. But today, under Labour, they are hurting like never Labour, they are hurting like never before. We were promised the government for jobs, for opportunity, for prosperity. What have we got instead? A concoction of catastrophic choices causing the closure, downsizing and lack of closure, downsizing and lack of hiding by pubs, restaurants, hotels and hospitality businesses across and hospitality businesses across the nation.

Jobs tax which goes out of its way to Savage part-time, entry-level opportunities, which hospitality offers an abundance. hospitality offers an abundance. Soaring business rates and over 300 pages of additional job killing pages of additional job killing redtape. I'm happy to give way.

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redtape. I'm happy to give way. I'm grateful to him. The first job I ever had was a porter at a hotel in Carlisle, than as a barman. It's an opportunity for people who have been coming into the labour market for the first time or people trying to get back into the labour market. Hospitality offers opportunity to people who otherwise have none and that opportunity has

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come under devastating attack from this government. He is exactly right. Opportunity is a word we're going to hear again is a word we're going to hear again and again because the huge contribution in the hospitality sector makes to the economy but also sector makes to the economy but also to giving people that ladder of opportunity. The first job in my. The Honourable gentleman is trying to get his first opportunity. I will

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to get his first opportunity. I will give him that. We will have a good debate. After that, I will make some progress. Does he agree that under the

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Does he agree that under the Tories, a pub closed every 14 hours. Tories, a pub closed every 14 hours. 10,000 in total. 14 hours and 14 years. We cannot be trusted with the

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economy. All I can say is that the

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All I can say is that the Honourable gentleman spent a lot more time in local pubs in his constituency because they will talk, constituency because they will talk, they will talk about the horror show they will talk about the horror show that is the Employment Rights Bill. They could talk to him about the They could talk to him about the soaring business rates, the reduction in relief under this government, and they could talk, of course, about the jobs tax, a

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course, about the jobs tax, a swingeing attack on the economy. If we're going to exchange

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If we're going to exchange details, we are going to exchange numbers on this, does he agree with me that it is shocking that over 1000 pubs and restaurants have closed since the Autumn Budget alone and 4000 hospitality workers have lost their jobs. Since the Autumn Budget alone. Does my honourable Budget alone. Does my honourable friend agree with me this is impacting our high street, it's impacting our high street, it's impacting the very viability of our town centres and this needs to stop.

The government need to stop holding The government need to stop holding a hospitality sector responsible for everything that happens in a local economy?

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economy? We have 50 people trying to contribute today. My honourable friend makes a very

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My honourable friend makes a very important point. It is about the numbers. It's important we should be numbers. It's important we should be instrumented in this. It is a sector instrumented in this. It is a sector that is extremely instrumented. They do a great job in calling out the impact. It is also not just the impact. It is also not just the numbers. Behind every one of those numbers is a story, a family, Stryver, a risk taker, entrepreneur, caretaker whose life is being sucked out by this government -- striver.

Hospitality is where the character of our nation lives. The welcome of the restaurant host, the laughter in the dining room, the clink of a glass. It is that life that is being

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extinguished that is so tragic. I'm grateful to him for giving way. One of the things that isn't way. One of the things that isn't picked up in the figures but if you speak to any Kafir aroma Cafe or business is that they are having -- any cafe or business is that they any cafe or business is that they are having to reduce the hours because of what has happened with because of what has happened with the taxes. This is a real problem.

You are not getting the growth we want in this country because people want in this country because people are having to deal with the toxic at auction of legislation on tax -- auction of legislation on tax -- toxic concoction. I do agree. He toxic concoction. I do agree. He puts it extremely well. It's been a very difficult summer. The weather very difficult summer. The weather should have been a tailwind. But the tailwind was not significant enough to offset the headwind of the impact to offset the headwind of the impact of that jobs tax.

Who doesn't hit? I say this to the party opposite who say they stand up for the opportunities of young people, for opportunities of young people, for the most vulnerable. That changed to national insurance threshold in particular. That reduction from 9100 particular. That reduction from 9100 to 5000 hits those who are the to 5000 hits those who are the part-time workers. The young mums trying to balance the responsibilities of family life. And the young people trying to get their very first step on the ladder.

In her first budget, the Chancellor said, "She has made her choices". We want her, businesses want her. Even the OBR want her. And what has happened? Precisely as my Honourable friend has said, 84,000 jobs have been lost in hospitality since she took office. That is a Wembley Stadium's worth of livelihoods shredded by this Labour government. The most vulnerable in society, those trying to juggle other commit and, young people trying to have their first shot in the world of work.

This government -- if this government is about protecting working people, I have to say they have an odd way of showing it. It's not just us saying it. Last month, Kate Nicholls, Chair of UK Hospitality, said that more than half of job losses since October occurring in hospitality is further evidence are sector has been hit by far the hardest by the Chancellor's

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regressive tax increases. Does my right honourable friend

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Does my right honourable friend agree with my constituent Stephen Montgomerie who is the director of the Scottish Hospitality Group. The very circumstances set out has very circumstances set out has brought the industry to the brink and unless the government start listening, it's going to go over a cliff edge?

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cliff edge? As it happens, I was in Edinburgh yesterday talking to representatives yesterday talking to representatives of both hospitality and the hard pressed to this sector, and they made exactly the same point to me there. This is unnecessary. It did there. This is unnecessary. It did not need to be this way. And to what end? To attend, that increase in the end? To attend, that increase in the jobs tax? To let the bloated public sector work from home another day a sector work from home another day a week.

If proof were needed of where hospitality ranks and the priorities hospitality ranks and the priorities of this government, we need look no further than the pages of their own Industrial Strategy because in 160 pages of closely typed text, hundreds and thousands of words, the word hospitality features just three times. One of which was a typo with a miss -- -- a typo where they misspelled the word hospital. The attitude to hospitality is lamentable. The bad news just keeps coming.

Now government that understood as misbehaviour is would ever come forward with the
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Andrew Griffith Portrait Andrew Griffith MP (Arundel and South Downs, Conservative)
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landlords into an attack on freedom of speech with a ban on overhead remarks. Not harassment but remarks remarks. Not harassment but remarks that someone could misconstrue is directed at them and defence. Any small business owner will tell you small business owner will tell you the two words the furthermost in the English language are employment English language are employment tribunal. Yet the legislation the government wants to legislate to government wants to legislate to grow even further the 0.5 million cases that are already in the employment tribunals backlog.

There employment tribunals backlog. There is no point in concocting or cooking up additional workplace rights if up additional workplace rights if people cannot find a job in the first place. That is why the top first place. That is why the top five business groups in the UK almost exceptionally wrote an open letter saying the impact on growth will be deeply damaging and that it will lead to both job losses and recruitment freezes. Will, that is here right now. That is what is happening in our high streets, in communities across this country thanks to this government damaging

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the hospitality sector. Yes. I agree about the point on employers national insurance contributions. But for the Highlands contributions. But for the Highlands contributions. But for the Highlands and Islands, there's reports that hoteliers are struggling to recruit. hoteliers are struggling to recruit. The large game of that is laid at the door of Brexit and there is the current immigration policy that does nothing to help the Highlands and nothing to help the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. There is a demand for real visa which is

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fully... Can I remind members that there are 45 of you wishing to speak. are 45 of you wishing to speak. Interventions must be a lot shorter

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Interventions must be a lot shorter The ability of people to find

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The ability of people to find work in this wonderful sector which provides wonderful opportunities as a function of access to the labour a function of access to the labour market and the ability of employers to take a risk on someone, a chance, to take a risk on someone, a chance, give them an opportunity. I think we would all agree. Occasionally, we would all agree. Occasionally, we can hear positive voices on the front bench before the backbench rinse them in but it would be better for public finances of the 9 million people of working age could seize the opportunity presented by sectors like hospitality, which offer flexible working and the chance to start a career and join the workforce from wherever they come from, whichever constituency, because hospitality, almost uniquely, is a sector in which all 45 hours who wish to speak today are proud of the contribution it makes and that is why we value it so

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strongly on our site of the House. You talk about 45 people wanting

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You talk about 45 people wanting to speak. My first job was in hospitality and I want my constituents to have the same hospitality but it is so difficult for hospitality businesses. Would you agree?

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you agree? Absolutely. We have got to do everything that we can to help because it is about tax, employment, because it is about tax, employment, because hospitality, tourism and because hospitality, tourism and retail allshare a significant amount retail allshare a significant amount of employment on offer. Also, taxes, it is a concoction, because things it is a concoction, because things like business rates, which are a terrible tax. They are paid before a terrible tax. They are paid before a business has made a single pound and they get fewer services from they get fewer services from government in return.

We shielded government in return. We shielded the sector with generous reliefs and exceptions but what of the first acts of the government was to more than double the business rates for than double the business rates for many in retail and hospitality and I agree with the CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association and she said the rate increases are at the heart of why so many pubs are closing. They do not get business and that is because there are more alumni of the Resolution Society than ministers who have been in business.

Very few of them have not got the experience. Business is not about numbers on some page in a policy pamphlet. They are real people who took a risk and put capital, time, energy to work and drew our communities and the economy as a result. -- grew. Some of my constituents have provided warm and welcoming and innovative establishments. It is people like them. It is not just hospitality businesses being ravaged by the state-imposed headwinds. Thousands of businesses there they are actors because of these measures.

We are witnessing the collapse of many high streets and in the minister's own constituency, they have lost the constituency, they have lost the last. -- The last clothes shop because of his cuts.

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I attended the reopening of a wonderful pub in my constituency last week. It was one of 10,000 that shot under the watch of the Conservatives and has been reopened Conservatives and has been reopened by the community. Though they agree that our policies are giving that our policies are giving businesses the confidence to reopen?

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businesses the confidence to reopen? My background is in business and I celebrate anyone who succeeds and takes a risk, including the hospitality venue in her hospitality venue in her constituency. One of the last venture is our government undertook was the Community Ownership Fund, was the Community Ownership Fund, which I know saved or helped many businesses but it has suddenly lost businesses but it has suddenly lost its way under this government. I will conclude to allow as many colleagues as possible to speak.

colleagues as possible to speak. Let's be crystal clear. There is nothing funny about this debate of nothing funny about this debate of what is happening in hospitality right now. People are losing their right now. People are losing their jobs. You cannot tax, regulate, or spend your way to. Every paint spend your way to. Every paint served, meals served, better still, breathe life into a community. No government is perfect and it is often best for the state to stay out of the way but, under Lumo, this vital and sector is being punished, not rewarded.

We do not protect businesses by destroying their economy and you cannot drain the life out of the economy. This is in hospitality deserve better and Conservatives will stand with those who dare to dream, and vastly higher, businesses big and small, fighting to keep the lights on. We stand for if the young person desperate for their first shot at

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work. Above all, we stand for the growth that this country desperately needs. The question is as on the order paper.

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paper. If I start with an apology, to

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If I start with an apology, to say, as I told my shadow appointed last night, I will not be here for
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Chris Bryant Portrait Chris Bryant MP, The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Rhondda and Ogmore, Labour)
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order and encourage all members to ensure that they stay on topic.

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They don't like it up them, do

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They don't like it up them, do they? He said these are the right plans because they make the economy competitive and the problem is he has not learned a thing since the has not learned a thing since the mini budget and he wants us to tax less and spend more at the same less and spend more at the same time. He wants to reverse the time. He wants to reverse the National Insurance policies but does not. He likes to spend the NHS, not.

He likes to spend the NHS, support spending on policing, and no doubt on trains, universities, schools, but does not want to pay schools, but does not want to pay for it and he has rerun the Liz for it and he has rerun the Liz Truss mini budget. It was mad but it Truss mini budget. It was mad but it was introduced and doolally today. A couple of points and I will give way. He condemns what he calls the reduction in retail rates from 70% to 40% by 2025-26.

Do you note the sleight of hand? Hospitality was To 40% and am proud to be released that and I'm also glad there will be a fair this rate system that protects the high street and is fit for the 21st century. Had 14 years, did they bring in any measures that protect hospitality Twitter recognise the role that hospitality plays in strengthening cohesion across the country and that is why from 2026-27, the government intends to induce permanently low tax rates for retail and leisure with value less than £500,000.

That is a permanent tax cut to ensure the protection and much-needed support.

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This is all very good and amusing knockabout stuff but could the knockabout stuff but could the Minister say a few words to the small businesses closing down across small businesses closing down across the country and if he's making representations to the Chancellor in representations to the Chancellor in the Budget to relieve some of the small businesses from taxes?

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I will be straightforward, of course we recognise and I've heard from many different businesses about the problems they are having and I the problems they are having and I will come onto the issue of this and I will come onto the specifics in a moment. But, I want to say that it moment. But, I want to say that it is all very well everyone campaigning against the tax but, if campaigning against the tax but, if campaigning against the tax but, if they are not prepared to offer an alternative...

They are willing the

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ends but not the means. Last month at the much loved

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Last month at the much loved local bakery, where people chew from 70 M for the famous bonds, does the Minister agree for that hospitality are at the heart of the economy, does she want to taste one of the iced buns, and does he agree that is what we are doing for committees?

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I am more of a Chelsea bun man.

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I am more of a Chelsea bun man. There are businesses opening afresh There are businesses opening afresh and far from them opening and NHS and the rail service that works and the rail service that works effectively, they welcome that and effectively, they welcome that and they want people to have a better

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which when the Karpaty work. Talking about businesses opening, in Harlow, we have a new branch of IKEA and we have spoken about the IKEA and we have spoken about the Employment Rights Bill and the excited and want us to hurry up and excited and want us to hurry up and get on with it. They are loyal to get on with it. They are loyal to their jobs and they are supported.

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their jobs and they are supported. A lot of Conservative MPs will say they are Swedish, as a foreign investment is a bad idea. That is investment is a bad idea. That is what they are doing. They can furrow their brows as much as they want. their brows as much as they want. The shadow secretary increases to national insurance contributions and yes, the government, of course, has taken difficult but necessary decisions on tax, welfare, spending, to fix finances, fund public services and restore economic stability after the situation be inherited from the previous administration but I have to point out because the honourable gentleman does not seem to understand the facts but the hospitality sector is predominantly made up of smaller businesses only took decisive steps to protect them from the impact of increases to national insurance contributions by increasing the threshold from £5000 to £10,500, meaning it simple pay no National Insurance contributions at all this year.

-- Meaning around 50% will pay. They will be able to employ fourfold workers on the national

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minimum wage without having to pay additional witty. I thank him for giving me. My

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I thank him for giving me. My wife and I have got two successful hospitality businesses and we hospitality businesses and we welcome the increase in National Insurance, the improvement in the rights of workers, because it is rights of workers, because it is good for employees, business, customers. Does the Minister agree the Tories only have to race to the bottom and do not know how to give

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bottom and do not know how to give I support what we did about the

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I support what we did about the national minimum wage. I met when we had to sit here at night to make sure is introduced in the first sure is introduced in the first place. I remember the liberal Democrats voting against it as well. It is an important point that we It is an important point that we want workers to be able to, if you work a decent number of hours every work a decent number of hours every week you should be able to put food on your table, you should be able to pay a mortgage, you should be able to give your children opportunities to give your children opportunities in life that maybe you were not able to achieve.

That is why it is important that in this sector above

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important that in this sector above all perhaps, we make sure that people are properly paid. Of course. UK hospitality said, at a time of the country needs jobs, the government should be encouraging hospitality to grow and create jobs not tax them out of existence. Are

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they right or wrong? We are not taxing them out of existence. I've tried to explain to the honourable gentleman. He is the honourable gentleman. He is another one of these people who is awfully nice when you meet him in awfully nice when you meet him in the bar, the shadow secretary is the bar, the shadow secretary is saying that sounds terrible. He was saying earlier that every single pipe that was pulled is an increase pipe that was pulled is an increase to the economy so he helps out.

The point I'm trying to make, not very point I'm trying to make, not very point I'm trying to make, not very well, is that I return to this point well, is that I return to this point that you cannot simply say we are not going to tax and still want the same level of expenditure. That is what got us into the trouble in the what got us into the trouble in the Liz Truss budget. The real problem is what it did to family finances is is what it did to family finances is it meant that mortgage rates rose faster than they have ever written faster than they have ever written in our history.

That made it almost

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impossible for people to survive economically. I do recognise that your gentleman wanted me to give way. The Minister is an entirely charming chap. He is a great entertainer and I worry that his Equity card may be getting out of date. When he mentions all the changes that have been made to bar staff for example and their conditions, does he really think it is a good idea to have them policing is a good idea to have them policing the comments of people whose public houses, when it takes five members of the established three when it takes five members of the established 32 arrest the comedian over an inappropriate tweet?

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He makes legitimate point. Of course I don't. I want my police officers to be policing the streets, officers to be policing the streets, as the Health Secretary said not releasing tweets or private conversations between individuals. I have made my point. The police in my have made my point. The police in my constituency who incidentally lost large numbers of police officers during the time of the Conservative during the time of the Conservative government are hard-pressed enough to deal with the problems they have with out trying to take on ludicrous with out trying to take on ludicrous posture as elements as well.

My posture as elements as well. My biggest complaint about the speech is that he is so determined to do is that he is so determined to do down the government that he ends up dragging down the sector as well. dragging down the sector as well. The honest truth is that the UK The honest truth is that the UK hospitality said is absolutely amazing. Whether it is Lake District, the nightlife in Manchester and London, the gastro Manchester and London, the gastro pubs in the Cotswolds, the movie locations around the country, the prospect of Whitby, the Moon under prospect of Whitby, the Moon under Water, Banbury Castle, Chester zoo which I visited last week to feed which I visited last week to feed the giraffes, the British Museum, the V&A and the Tate, all of the V&A's and the tapes, Windsor Castle, the pub and the castle, Stratford- upon-Avon.

St Mary Redcliffe, Canterbury Cathedral, the O2, the Stadium of light, we should celebrate everything part of our hospitality industry across the whole of the UK and be proud that we are British.

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Does the Minister agree that in Stratford-upon-Avon, hospitality is Stratford-upon-Avon, hospitality is not just an industry but a life boat for our economy. And every restaurant closure is not just a blow to jobs but to our high street blow to jobs but to our high street

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and community sense of place? Yes, and I would add another

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Yes, and I would add another point to that which is actually, in Stratford-upon-Avon as in other parts of the whole of the UK, hospitality industry and the tourism industry, and the creative industry, and the creative industries are intrinsically bound together. The number of people who would go to the theatre and stay in would go to the theatre and stay in a hotel, go to the Lazy Duct or a hotel, go to the Lazy Duct or other pubs, the most visited church in England which is in Stratford- in England which is in Stratford- upon-Avon.

It is a multifarious different concoction of different industries that fits together. So we need to try and foster all of them need to try and foster all of them so they can flourish together. One of the argument I have been trying to make is, much as I love Stratford-upon-Avon, it is very Stratford-upon-Avon, it is very difficult to get to by train incidentally, one of the things I would dearly love that we could sort out. One of the things I have been trying to argue is a lot of international tourists only come to London, the south-east, perhaps Oxford, Cambridge, Stratford, Edinburgh.

I want them to see the whole diversity in the hospitality industry and the tourism sector across the whole of the UK. I was

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looking in that direction. I'm grateful. He needs to add a

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I'm grateful. He needs to add a few more island venues to his list in the future. Can I take it back to tax and he is right to say if you will the reduction in taxi should will the reduction in expenditure. When we cut the rate of duty on spirits we did it with an expectation of a loss of £600 expectation of a loss of £600 million. It actually brought in an increase of £800 million. That can sometimes happen.

The UK hospitality sometimes happen. The UK hospitality sometimes happen. The UK hospitality said for years has been asking for a rate of VAT on their services. It rate of VAT on their services. It would be sector specific full stop they have given evidence backed by consultancies that it would in fact bring in an increased tax take.

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bring in an increased tax take. Would you make that point the Treasury? Nearly every meeting I have with

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Nearly every meeting I have with any sector within my portfolio says to me as part of the meeting, can we to me as part of the meeting, can we have a cut in VAT. It has been said to me many times from people in to me many times from people in hospitality said that they would like a cut in VAT. It is also set by the theatre industry and a whole series of others. These are matters for the Chancellor not for me as well he knows.

I say about islands, he's absolutely right, and we are an island nation and we should embrace that as part of our tourism and hospitality industry across the whole of the UK. There are specific challenges that arise for coastal areas and islands which I hope we will be able to address me come to produce our tourism strategy this year.

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I thank the Minister for giving way. Talking about Stratford but I way. Talking about Stratford but I was waiting to hear about Stratford and Bow in London. Where I'm really pleased that the government is pleased that the government is backing a bid for the 2029 world backing a bid for the 2029 world athletics championship. My constituency, like so many thrive when more tourists and visitors come when more tourists and visitors come from across the UK and overseas. We want to see the spread in every region across the UK.

The Minister is developing a visiting economy is developing a visiting economy growth strategy for sub can he set

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growth strategy for sub can he set out how it would spread tourism beyond London so other regions can thrive as well? One of the first things I did

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One of the first things I did when I became minister was I set an ambitious target of reaching 50 million international visitors to the UK by 2030. We are something the UK by 2030. We are something the UK by 2030. We are something like 43 million at the moment. If we are going to get to that 50 million we have to make sure we have the accommodation, the mix of accommodation, the mix of accommodation across the whole UK, it poses some challenges are and how we deal with short-term let, to make we deal with short-term let, to make sure there is more of an even playing field and some areas in coastal areas and some areas which are dependent on tourism don't end are dependent on tourism don't end up being completely deluded when tourists have gone about the end of the season.

We need to do more about extending the season so it is not just the summer months. There are a whole series of things we can do to make sure it happens. It is not just about international visitors. Of course when an international visitor comes to the UK they bring dollars, they bring Euros, and whatever into the UK and that of the net gain to our economy. I would argue also that when a domestic visitor decides, I'm not going to go to Spain this year because I know there is so much, and frankly climate that is rather more susceptible to human beings nowadays in summer in the UK, that they would stay in the UK and that is the net gain for us.

I think we need to explore all these elements will stop she referred to the East End of London. There are a lot of sporting events that take place in the East End of London. Sport is as much an intrinsic part of people coming. The number of international visitors who come to the UK solely for a premiership match is very large. But the number of people who went to the theatre last year is double the number of people who went to a premiership match in the UK.

So we need to get the whole of this sector moving as much as we possibly can. Need to make sure there is an investment in the right parts of the sector, and across the whole UK. It won't be quick I know it won't.

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Least of all my answer. Wales has introduced a tourism

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Wales has introduced a tourism tax and is planning to do so. Can he rule out that the UK in the upcoming

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budget will not have a tourism tax? I am not going to the chancellors

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I am not going to the chancellors job. We have no plans to introduce a job. We have no plans to introduce a tourism tax. We are looking at where tourism tax. We are looking at where there are different places in the country would have gone forward in different ways. Manchester has a system which has been voluntarily agreed. There is a situation in agreed. There is a situation in Scotland and in Wales as he has referred to. We want to look at how all this progresses.

Many people in all this progresses. Many people in the sector have made the point to me that they feel taxed enough. And I don't know that we want to specifically add any more to that. There is a job of work to be done around short-term lets because it around short-term lets because it does seem to be critically unfair if someone is effectively providing hotel like accommodation that is not subject to any of these rules, or to the same taxation that a hotel or small hotel would be in an area and that is one of the issues we want to that is one of the issues we want to take forward.

Every time I deal with something another person stands up. We have not had had anybody from the

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SNP yet. In Scotland, and thank you for

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In Scotland, and thank you for highlighting the V&A which is in my city of Dundee, which has numerous city of Dundee, which has numerous business and hospitality. Scotland has £9 billion in contributions to hospitality to the Exchequer and 200,000 jobs dependent on it. There is consequences for National Insurance contribution rises. For example the number of people this year is one third of venues in year is one third of venues in Scotland have reduced their staff numbers.

An almost 1/5 of short and the opening hours which means less jobs, less income taxes and less

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jobs, less income taxes and less profit tax. Interventions are long, the Minister has now taken longer than the Shadow Minister did in the opening debate. I'm sure he's bringing his remarks to a conclusion very soon.

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very soon. I will just win that bit of the speech. When the government took office, the sector was already under office, the sector was already under strain. The aftermath of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis left businesses and hospitality and tourism facing real difficulties. Domestic tourism in particular had struggled to get back to pre-pandemic numbers. That is still the case in many different parts of the country. We inherited a very distressed sector but we have acted quickly and decisively destabilise it.

Supported jobs and laid the foundations for growth. We are working to continue to get people into jobs in collaboration with the DWP the sector based Work Academy Programme sub-sea Nilli 10,000 starts in hospitality less than two is. We've extended the destination of hospitality s WAP is destination of hospitality s WAP is to 26 areas in England which helps jobseekers to gain experience and skills needed to enter employment in hospitality and tourism. The one area I will agree with the Shadow Minister is that this is a unique sector in one sense which is you can go from having no skills, no qualifications and no experience to being a skilled worker in the sector within six to nine months.

That is transformational for many people. I want to make sure that more young people in this country don't just think of this as a job but could think of it as a career. The one thing that has been said repeatedly to me by the sector is that there is a skills shortage. In particular people who are five or 10 years into the sector. We want more people to stay because nearly every Chief Executive you meet the sector is someone who started on the shop floor, pulling pints, changing beds or something like that.

So for us as a Labour government, it is essential to social mobility. Madam Deputy Speaker, in July this government set out its plan for small businesses which are the most competitive package of support for small and medium-sized businesses in a generation which will be transformational for the sector. We are slashing red tape to overall planning and licensing rules to make it quicker and easier for new cafe's bars and music venues to open in case of disused shops. We are increasing access to finance for entrepreneurs with a massive £4 billion finance boost.

We are ending the scourge of late payments which cost the UK economy £11 billion annually and closes 38 businesses every day. Another issue that is repeatedly raised with me. We are not complacent at all about the sector. We want to get a 50 million international visitors to the UK by 2030. We are preparing to publish a visitor economy growth strategy later this year, to set out how the UK can capitalise on global opportunities, increase investment, and strengthen the resilience of the sector long term.

The hospitality and tourism sector of the beating heart is the audible member said of our towns, cities, and rural economies. Are vital to our high streets, they provide jobs and skills for young people, entry route to those who might be excluded from work, and vital social spaces that bind our communities together. This government will continue to back them with action with rhetoric. I would encourage everything a member of the House to find a business in the sector, not a known constituency, but in someone else's, that they can boost this weekend.

Many thanks.

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The current economic landscape is

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The current economic landscape is difficult for many businesses and industries and hospitality is one of
16:01
Sarah Olney Portrait Sarah Olney MP (Richmond Park, Liberal Democrat)
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industries and hospitality is one of the sector facing the most acute challenges with pubs, hotels, cafes facing challenges with energy bills, skill shortages, and the broken business rates system. Labour have had over a year to address this but, instead of a lifeline, policies have made it harder for them to stay above water with changes to National Insurance, the reduction in business rates relief, the absence of meaningful action to bring down energy prices contribute to job losses, business closures, stagnant economic growth and although the decisions have made things worse, business sentiment was not rosy with the last government and years of economic mismanagement forced businesses to make cuts and employees to work longer hours.

We feel obliged to point out it was the chaotic approach of the last Conservative government that caused the problems in the first place, with the soaring energy costs and the redtape thrown up by the dismal Brexit negotiations. According to UK Hospitality, the measures of the budget provided a cumulative hit were £3.4 billion in annual costs and data from the Office of National Statistics shows the hospitality sector has shed nearly 70,000 jobs since last October, 3.2% of all jobs in the sector and significantly higher than the number of jobs lost in the overall economy.

These figures illustrate the show dismantling of hospitality as a direct result of the policies of this government. A recent UK Hospitality survey found that since the autumn Budget, one third of hospitality businesses operating at a loss with 65% having increase prices and two thirds cutting employee. They are struggling to stay afloat. Small businesses are

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repeating hard of the economy. This morning, I heard from the

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This morning, I heard from the manager of a coffee shop in Horsham manager of a coffee shop in Horsham and she said, "Since the last budget I have been able to hire new staff I have been able to hire new staff and I spent every day working in the shop and seven customers which means shop and seven customers which means I cannot follow up on you ideas and I cannot follow up on you ideas and paperwork is a challenge.

She asked me to say that given that this is something that the Chancellor has to

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something that the Chancellor has to do before digging a deeper hole. I thank you for the intervention and it is a striking example of the and it is a striking example of the pressures faced by the sector and he is right that the Chancellor needs is right that the Chancellor needs to hear the calls from the hospitality sector as she puts together the Budget which is expected at the end of November. expected at the end of November. Small businesses are at the centre of local communities and create the jobs we all rely on.

We are glad raising the employment allowance will shield the smallest employers will shield the smallest employers put thousands will still feel the damaging impact of the National Insurance increase. My colleagues and I have voted against the misguided job tax at every opportunity and once again I urge the government to scrap the measures. I also ask the Minister to spear treasured pubs, restaurants, hotels by exempting hospitality from the tax rise. -- spare. Whether they were aware of it or not, the decision to change the NICS rate has increased the cost of employing part-time workers, dealing a disproportionately large blow to

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hospitality. Does she agree that when the

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Does she agree that when the Minister talks about social mobility, when a company cuts the mobility, when a company cuts the others, those working part-time jobs are some of the most disadvantaged

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are some of the most disadvantaged in society that miss out and lose jobs. I thank her for the point. She is

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I thank her for the point. She is right and that is why the job tax has been so damaging to hospitality has been so damaging to hospitality and those who rely on the sector for the flexible work that can fit in the flexible work that can fit in with their demands working in PR or with their demands working in PR or

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with their demands working in PR or with other -- caring the man's other edges. Does she agree with me that they

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Does she agree with me that they could be recommendations, particularly on the Employment particularly on the Employment particularly on the Employment Rights Bill, and that has to do with the banter ban which even the the banter ban which even the Equalities and Human Right It Is a house described as ineffective and likely to cause more harm to those using them.

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I disagree with him about the banter ban and the Liberal Democrats agree with the concerns about challenges in hospitality but the challenges in hospitality but the part of the motion which expresses regret for the Employment Rights Bill, we believe they have not been accurately represented and as previously highlighted by the honourable member and the work on honourable member and the work on this issue by the member for Bath, introducing reasonable and workable measures to protect employees from harassment in their place of work are welcomed and advocated for on are welcomed and advocated for on these benches.

The government must take steps to boost the hospitality workforce, including showing more urgency and introducing a youth mobility scheme. It took nearly a mobility scheme. It took nearly a year to listen to calls made by the Liberal Democrats and others for a youth mobility scheme to be negotiated and I hope they will not continue to drag their feet on an agreement that will benefit agreement that will benefit hospitality. The changes from April 2024 which increased the minimum 2024 which increased the minimum threshold for these as shrunk the criteria for businesses that can criteria for businesses that can recruit for and contributed to strategies.

Almost half of employers were found to be saying that a reduction in overseas talent was one of the main causes of staffing issues. At the time when many businesses are deciding if the remain viable, we must provide them with the tools that they need to grow, as the economy, and access to global talent as part of. Once again, I ask if the government will set out the timeline for the introduction of a youth mobility scheme. We need to see serious effort to supercharge apprenticeships and invest in skills and retraining opportunities.

Can the Minister reassure the House that Skills England will have this at its heart? There are Skyfire energy costs and the recent Industrial Strategy provided some welcome measures, particularly for manufacturing. There is little to manufacturing. There is little to support hospitality in the strategy and to deal with the soaring energy bills. The liberal Democrats have long campaigned for energy reform including reducing reliance on expensive fossil fuel imports by investing in home-grown sustainable energy and we want to break the link between gas prices and electricity costs will hopefuls and businesses benefit from cheap, clean power and law energy bills.



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It is difficult to get a word in.

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It is difficult to get a word in. Just to disclose, I have 100 staff members in the hospitality industry members in the hospitality industry in the Islands and I can say all is in the Islands and I can say all is not well. -- Highlands. We are not well. -- Highlands. We are paying four times what people in the city after electricity and we do not get the same relief in Scotland as get the same relief in Scotland as you do in the rest of the UK.

Thank you do in the rest of the UK. Thank you to my friends in the SNP. The cost including National Insurance is cost including National Insurance is a 12.4% increase for staffing and we have real problems and all is not well, I am afraid.

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well, I am afraid. I think I thank my right

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I think I thank my right honourable friend for the intervention and he is of course right about the cost of energy and right about the cost of energy and the difficulties that presents for cities across the country and his cities across the country and his point about Scotland in particular is well made. I ask if you will is well made. I ask if you will consider the proposals put forward in our plans which would ease the burden on hospitality and for people across the country and finally, turning to business rates, the motion rightly reflects many economic mistakes made by this government but it's important to highlight it was the last Conservative government which broke the manifesto promise and left small businesses trapped and no action has been taken and the Liberal Democrats will hold ministers accountable on the plate.

This penalises manufacturers when they try to become more productive and efficient and gives pubs disproportionate tax bills and puts the high street at a disadvantage compared to online retail giant. Too many pubs and restaurants are closing, taking with them jobs, opportunities, treasured community spaces and more broadly the outdated tax inhibits this investment, job creation, economic growth, holding back the economy. The problems have persisted for too long and it is high time the government takes action. Our proposals would cut tax bill, provide opportunities and growth.

They would provide certainty, which is needed more than ever into the's professional environment. Pubs, restaurants and cafes brighten up the high streets and bring local communities together. The economic landscape created by the last government did so much damage them and this government continues to push many to the brink of collapse. I call Mrs listen to because of the Liberal Democrats and -- I hope the ministers will seriously consider our plans to cut energy bills for people in hospitality firms across the country.



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With an immediate 5-minute time limit, Olivia Bailey. Over the recess I had the

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Over the recess I had the pleasure of visiting more than 20 fantastic small businesses in my constituency as part of my small business, Roger with the aim of promoting them and helping them to promoting them and helping them to thrive and I visited a large number of businesses as part of this including a street food shack, a including a street food shack, a number of cafes, the pantry, the
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Olivia Bailey Portrait Olivia Bailey MP (Reading West and Mid Berkshire, Labour)
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number of cafes, the pantry, the Swan Pub, and the Mad Duck. These Businesses Don't Just Serve Food and Drink but provide places for the turbidity to spend time with one another and I thank them for everything that they do. I know -- and allow them to spend time with each other. I thank them for that. I know there are struggles to deal with the endless red tape. I that the government has recently published the Small Business Strategy Software Addresses, Cutting Red Tape and admin costs, expanding access, simplifying licensing, establishing hospitality and neck pain economy zones.

And for many pubs and -- night-time economy. And for many pubs, we have cut duty on draft drinks. I thank the party opposite for evading the opportunity to have this debate this afternoon but I would say that honourable members have conveniently ignored the contribution that they are 14 years in government have made to the challenges they are gliding today. The government has had to make tough choices to fix these challenges but the party opposite left public services on their knees, left a huge hole in public finances and oversaw skyrocketing inflation, mortgage rate chaos, and higher energy bills for everyone, including small businesses.

On their watch, families stop being able to afford a meal out because of the unprecedented fall in living standards and businesses had zero stability and certainty for the future because they went through the ministers so fast it felt like each one was ideally special.

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We have heard from the parties opposite about the taxes they are opposite about the taxes they are not happy at seeing global little about the spending and investment that they would cut as a result of that they would cut as a result of the taxes going down. Is this a case the taxes going down. Is this a case of them having their cake and eating

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of them having their cake and eating I agree. This government is

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I agree. This government is cleaning up the mess that the party opposite made. Fixing the foundations of our economy by restoring stability and presiding over rate cut after rate cut. Supporting people with cost of living with things that the expansion of free childcare, tackling the antisocial behaviour and shoplifting that plagues our and shoplifting that plagues our high streets and transforming the printer ships and skills system to train up young people and get them into secure jobs. For the members into secure jobs.

For the members opposite to pretend that they presided over some sort of Golden Age of hospitality is simply Age of hospitality is simply farcical. Over 6000 pubs and bars closed with streets becoming nothing more but empty shops. We have made difficult decisions to get public services back on track and I believe that is the right thing to do for a country, to step out of the black hole the Tories left us with. We are focusing on positive measures to support our local hospitality businesses rather than waxing lyrical when it is simply too late.

The businesses I met over the summer, actions speak louder than words, and that is the difference

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between this Labour government and the opposition. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. Hospitality industry is often the unsung hero of communities. We often unsung hero of communities. We often don't appreciate it enough and take it for granted. It is in every village and every town, every corner of their constituency. This of their constituency. This opportunity today to debate the hospitality industry is very timely given the challenges that they are given the challenges that they are facing. As my right honourable friend said earlier, the hospitality friend said earlier, the hospitality industry offers that first industry offers that first opportunity for many people to get into that first job.

It offers
16:18
Charlie Dewhirst Portrait Charlie Dewhirst MP (Bridlington and The Wolds, Conservative)
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into that first job. It offers opportunities for those on flexible working. It offers opportunities for career progression for those who wish to move to management and maybe aspire to own their own hospitality industry one day. As a proud representative of the constituency representing two seaside towns, and the whole area is reliant on hospitality industry, it is part of the tourism we so enjoy. 5 million visitors come to Billington every year all of whom are enjoying hospitality of some sort, the pubs, cafe's, the fish and chips and ice creams.

All of these businesses are under serious pressure. We have heard already job losses across the sector, 84,000. The pressure is being felt by these individuals. The individual businesses, the rise in National Insurance, the Employment Rights Bill and other measures taken by the Chancellor in her first budget. One particular area I want to concentrate on is VAT. Particularly on the pub and restaurant sector. It is a serious issue. I was told by a local landlord of a successful pub in my constituency that he covers, 600 covers a week and still struggles to make a profit for top because although he is buying food without VAT on it yesterday charged it back to the customer for put a squeeze of his ability to achieve a profit even though he is running a successful business.

For the first 500 people that come in for a meal every week, the government is taking the first 100 covers. It is quite a hit on those businesses. I think the government minister should make more significant representations to the Chancellor on that specific point. I know he says his approach to every sector when it comes to VAT but it seems to be an acute problem when it comes to pubs.

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My honourable friend referred to the Minister's representations to the Chancellor. I think the Minister the Chancellor. I think the Minister said he was not going to make any representations to the Chancellor.

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representations to the Chancellor. It is not for me to say whether the Minister will not. He should do and he should be shouting much more

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loudly of the hospitality's. If you want to stand up I'm happy to give way. I'm always happy to make representations to the Chancellor on representations to the Chancellor on lots of things I have no intention of sharing them with the House.

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of sharing them with the House. Let's hope she listens this time.

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Let's hope she listens this time. Another point raised by my honourable friend was around the tourism tax in Wales which has caused significant concerns in caused significant concerns in Coastal Communities Fund and coastal villages because, as the Minister said, the tourism industry is already heavily taxed. People are already heavily taxed. People are feeling the pressure. We certainly don't want to see any sort of tourism tax being expanded from tourism tax being expanded from Wales into the wider United Kingdom. Wales into the wider United Kingdom.

It really is not possible for these businesses to continue in the current climate, as we have heard, current climate, as we have heard, one third are unable to make a profit and hospitality industry. Yet our local pubs are the lifeblood of our local pubs are the lifeblood of our community. They are so important, we saw the string Covid, but we could not go to the pub the impact that had on communities in terms of people being able to mix, especially those who live alone whose social contact is limited to those when they go and visit friends for a pint after work.



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He is right that these hospitality businesses are the lifeblood of our businesses. In lifeblood of our businesses. In Epping Forest we have fantastic local pubs, like the Ball, and local pubs, like the Ball, and fantastic restaurants. These are all really suffering now with this punitive taxation regime from the Labour government, the jobs tax, the Labour government, the jobs tax, the business rates rise, and it is punitive. Does he agree with me that punitive. Does he agree with me that everything they are doing is damaging our local communities?

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damaging our local communities? Absolutely because hospitality is the lifeblood of our local community. We should be doing more community. We should be doing more to look at this as a special case because it really is damaging when a village loses a pub, a village loses part of its heart and soul. We absolutely need to be protecting absolutely need to be protecting these businesses. They are not out there trying to fleece the customers, they want to make a customers, they want to make a living.

Our landlords and landladies living. Our landlords and landladies are there, providing fantastic part of our communities, so we should be supporting them. The Chancellor when supporting them. The Chancellor when we eventually get to our Christmas budget has that chance to actually say to our businesses, our hospitality businesses across the country that we do value you. We accept there are pressures that have been created by the rising National Insurance contributions. There are pressures in the Employment Rights Bill and pressures to the existing VAT rate, and we want to help you.

I know as the Chancellor says, there will you cut money if you take money where those particular taxes? I say let's be inventive unless look at where we should value at what we are valuing. This is about if you reduce taxes, as we have heard, you might get more take in your overall tax bill. If you have more people getting into pubs and restaurants and cafe's and spending more money because it is more affordable to do so, the Treasury will end up with more money.

So would ask the Minister, please make representations for our hospitality sector.

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. Bournemouth relies heavily on hospitality and tourism. In my
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Tom Hayes Portrait Tom Hayes MP (Bournemouth East, Labour)
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hospitality and tourism. In my constituency, hospitality generates £162.8 million of revenue, it employs 3700 people and does so across more than 30 venues. I thank the audible member of his congratulations sector creates vibrant communities, accessible jobs and investment. Take the CEO of Brewhouse, he chairs industry apprenticeship program and has invested over £3 million to revive a derelict pub creating a community hub and over 40 new jobs. Take other people who the new chief secretary to the prime minister was so happy to visit a few months ago.

Take John Roberts of Little Earth or others, the list goes on. We are blessed with fantastic hospitality owners. That is because they are investing time, money, and personal risk to create jobs and community hubs. They are often overlooked policy discussions over the last few years, and so they want balanced and targeted support for businesses to ensure their efforts are being supported. Hospitality matters so much because it is woven into everyday life. Whether it is coffee with friends, football, or a drink down the pub.

Whether it is date night or quick bites before events. It is hospitality's that provides so many events that we find so meaningful in our personal lives. There are critical community space and bring us together and create belonging to each other in places that we live within. In the last 14 years we have seen our social info structure attacked and decimated. Need to be supporting hospitality that. It is important for those of us who represent Coastal Communities Fund the Labour represents more Coastal Communities Fund at any time since 1997.

Nearly half of coastal seats in England and Wales were one from the Conservatives 2024, and no wonder. My constituents talk about how Bournemouth was left behind, how Coastal Community Team been forgotten. This side of the House is committed to putting that right. It means supporting hospitality and

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tourism sectors. I thank the on-board member for his passionate argument for hospitality and Coastal Communities Fund. Plymouth have some of the best Fund. Plymouth have some of the best pubs in England, I'm convinced beer taste better in pubs in Plymouth than from any other place in the UK. than from any other place in the UK. I do have a question, does he not think it is important to acknowledge think it is important to acknowledge that the catastrophic mismanagement of hospitality during Covid by the previous Conservative government is

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previous Conservative government is still wreaking havoc? I am astonished that nobody

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I am astonished that nobody raised a point of order there is of course Plymouth does not have the course Plymouth does not have the best beer in the country. Bournemouth East does and if not Bournemouth East I'm sure many other constituencies do. I'm agree with constituencies do. I'm agree with him that hospitality to has endured time and again difficulty whether it time and again difficulty whether it is the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, whether it is the last government reckless disregard for government reckless disregard for the needs of hospitality's, and so we need to fix the foundations of we need to fix the foundations of the hospitality's.

We need to be supporting our economy by stabilising it, and in so doing support hospitality businesses. support hospitality businesses. Plymouth, Bournemouth, Coastal Community Team, we have faced significant challenges whether it be worst health outcomes, lower life expectancy, poor education, lower pay, higher deprivation, we need to support our Coastal Communities Fund to given that they are so heavily reliant on tourism and struggling industries over recent years like hospitality. According to the Office of National Statistics, Coastal Community Team a higher proportion of hospitality businesses than inland areas.

Our Coastal Communities Fund are hospitality's can therefore be a powerful economic driver, at a time we are desperate to raise per activity from sluggish

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levels and to grow our economy. I thank your woman before giving way. He is right reflects the way. He is right reflects the importance that Coastal Communities Fund on driving the government's growth agenda. In my constituency we growth agenda. In my constituency we have the Coastal Community Team and the tourism businesses in that small the tourism businesses in that small businesses are doing incredible things and driving tourism, coming together with the beach cafe, a together with the beach cafe, a sauna, and a goat coffeehouse as sauna, and a goat coffeehouse as well.

Bringing so much more tourism to what is a beautiful part of my constituency. Does he recognise that there is quid pro quo when it comes there is quid pro quo when it comes to businesses were trying to drive growth but they are being hamstrung by the government increased to taxes on business rates?

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I thank your woman but for intervening. She makes an intervening. She makes an interesting point. I would say that were it not for the tax rise which allowed for the investment in NHS we would not be seeing so many hospital appointments. We would not be seeing such dramatic falls in NHS waiting such dramatic falls in NHS waiting lists. Not be seeing the return of people who are ill to the workforce so they can work and earn and contribute to our economy and help hospitality.



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Would my friend admit that what

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Would my friend admit that what happened in the Budget was a transfer of 2% of GDP from the private sector to the public sector? private sector to the public sector? private sector to the public sector? And that public sector is in many ways hospitality sex.

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I don't mechanise what he is saying and I hope is welcoming the increased NHS investment, the free breakfast clubs, the place-based nurseries, distillation of his local nurseries, distillation of his local economy. I hope is welcoming in improved pothole filling. I hope is improved pothole filling. I hope is welcoming improved connectivity. If you want to stand up and say that I will let him.

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will let him. Would he agree that his constituents will have the opportunity next year if Scotland votes for Scottish Labour government?

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government? I think my honourable friend has

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I think my honourable friend has said. I welcome what he said. I also want to recognise the difficult financial inhabitants of this financial inhabitants of this government. How are needed to raise money in order to fix the foundations and invest in our public services, liver the change that people were calling out forging the general election and long before. All of us on this side of the House and on the other side hearing from a constituent about green shoots of recovery in our NHS, and in schools finally starting to get the investment they need, and place- based nurseries and childcare being rolled out on a large scale.

What I want to see from our government is a continuation of hard work. I welcome the fact that in Bournemouth we do have the empty shops rental auction underway. I welcome that the government is moving ahead in supporting hospitality's. What I want to see is places being able to have the office of valuation properly regard what they stated as needing fixing. The last valuation, neighbourhoods like mine had their rates stay flat or even increase harming independent retailers. For us on this side of the House who want to support hospitality I would like to see this corrected.

I would like to see proposals of the raising of the rateable value threshold for 100% relief from 15,000 to 25,000 tapered really. With the introduction of high Street survivor discounts, the simplification of the appeals process with support. These are some of the ideas from constituents and I'm sure other constituents and I'm sure other
16:32
James Wild Portrait James Wild MP (North West Norfolk, Conservative)
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As we have heard so far, hospitality is a crucial part of the economy and pubs, hotels, other businesses employed 3.5 million people with over 5000 in my constituency alone, contributing £136 million to the local economy. The decisions of the government have hammered the sector and as the owner of my local pub recently put it, OPEC was How many rising costs can you face before collapsing face first." Another said, "Costs are rising faster than the centre of a badly made souffle." We help the sector recover from difficult decisions we had to make during Covid and that is a sharp contrast to what we are seeing today because all members, if they spoke to businesses in their institutions is bit of her concern about increased costs and during the summer, talking to the team that reopened a local pub in Norfolk, I heard her damaging the national increase -- how damaging the increase in National Insurance has been with the change bringing 750,000 international insurers for the first time.

The Labour decisions have cost nearly 90,000 jobs already in the sector, particularly hitting younger people, those starting out in part-time work and people looking for entry-level positions to grow into for their career. The Minister said he hoped more people would have an opportunity and the jobs tax is costing the sector £3.4 billion in the year with around one third operating at a loss and many increasing prices to cope with increased costs and two thirds reducing the hours the staff they have and not taking on more people.

Little wonder it has been described as a hammer blow for the sector by UK Hospitality. The choice to reduce business rate relief from 75% to 40% has affected 250,000 businesses. I was surprised to hear the Minister boasting about this. Many restaurants are paying extra. How do they expect it to be absorbed? There is more to come. The Employment Rights Bill of the Deputy Prime Minister or whoever picks it up after her will add £5 billion a year to employer costs, making it less likely for them to take on people.

Hospitality firms are resilient. The government is putting them under the cosh. They can attract customers and cosh. They can attract customers and support local communities. There are new enterprises in my constituency but the government is making it too hard for firms like to thrive and grow. Members have the opportunity to back a sensible motion and to think again on the doubling of the districts and amend the damaging Employment Rights Bill to protect seasonal and flexible work.

Hospitality businesses cannot afford the government making such bad choices. The Chancellor and her team should listen to employers and take action, otherwise, more venues and

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jobs will be lost. I'm pleased to have the opportunity to talk about opportunity to talk about hospitality and we value and applaud those who work in it and the rise in confidence businesses reporting and
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Andrew Lewin Portrait Andrew Lewin MP (Welwyn Hatfield, Labour)
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confidence businesses reporting and the evolving nature of the high street. High streets and hospitality are changing but what has not changed his the Conservative party in opposition that wants to talk the country down. The reality, as reported by 1200 businesses in the Lloyds Business Survey paints a different picture. The survey reported the following, "The overall Business Confidence Index rose for the fourth consecutive month in August, reaching its highest level since late 2015." Let's set that out.

Business confidence under this Labour Chancellor is higher than it was at any point under any of the last six Conservative chancellors who occupied Number 11 Downing Street.

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An excellent point. Does he agree that the confidence of consumers is rising with the cuts to interest rates, the rise of the minimum wage, and other benefits for families?

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and other benefits for families? I have spoken to those on fixed rate mortgages who were hammered under Liz Truss under P and hundreds of pounds less per month because we are getting a grip on the economy. Confidence in retailers surveyed has Confidence in retailers surveyed has risen by 13 points, to 55%, marking risen by 13 points, to 55%, marking a 5-month high. It's all welcome use but I'm far from completion. There but I'm far from completion.

There are real challenges for some hospitality firms and I will turn to how the government will address them how the government will address them and how is how it matters to constituents. A fitting place to start as those who work in the start as those who work in the sector with an average age of 35 and when I bought my last suit, I received some good advice from a received some good advice from a younger employee and when I pop in for a coffee, when I pop into a branch, it is invariably observed by a younger person and so to when I pop into a paint in one of our towns and villages.

People working in hospitality are just as deserving of rights and protection in the workplace as anyone else and that is why it is important that the Employment Rights Bill brings forward projections from day one, including protection from unfair dismissal, banning zero hours contracts, strengthening statutory sick pay. They increase the national living which by 6.7%, to 12.21 pence an hour, and entry is comfortably above inflation and welcome by millions of workers. Seemingly not by the Conservative party. There is doubt cast on the Low Pay Commission and they have casted out on the pay rise.

On businesses, there was no commitment to continue with the leisure relief, as my right honourable friend set out powerfully in the opening remarks. He is right to give confidence and security to present. We can go further and I know how much pride we take in the city centres and there is still demand in towns for this is it of operator, with a mixture of permanence, such as the iconic John Lewis store, to events put on in the town ever year.

We bring in tourists from across the world. This government has listened to businesses and millions of workers a pay rise. Sentiment is improving and confidence is rising. Let's not talk down the sector and let's champion it and seize the opportunities in front of us.

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I represent many rural villages

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I represent many rural villages and communities and I've long been and communities and I've long been struck over the importance of the village pub, a place for decomposition, friendly banter, decomposition, friendly banter, connecting with friends and
16:42
Brian Mathew Portrait Brian Mathew MP (Melksham and Devizes, Liberal Democrat)
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connecting with friends and neighbours. On my summer tour, I was neighbours. On my summer tour, I was in a lovely local village a friendly community publico. Transport links and broadband connectivity can leave much to be desired and there is an increase in isolation for those working at all, raising children, trying to enjoy retirement. In these incidents, knowing your neighbours, having someone to talk to, so important and it is often the pub that makes this possible.

We have heard about the pubs and restaurants closing since the tax receipts in the Budget glacier, leaving it if there is a people out of work and two pubs shut every day but this does not show the whole impact. Landlords and bar staff, often Landlords and bar staff, often putting in superhuman effort to keep businesses afloat. One constituent came to talk to me about her concerns since the Budget and in addition to diversifying the business, including running a butcher shop, the Swan plays a vital role in the community and highs a weekly pop event and helps with the village fair and a farmers event but the costs have risen exponentially since the Budget.

The cost of hospitality relief has doubled the business rate to £444 a month. This combines with the lowering of national health contribution and means that landlords are under greater financial pressure than ever. Given tax makes up 40% of turnover and every 1 pound... Sorry, 1 pound in every 3 pounds goes to HMRC and so surely it is time for the government review they burden it is putting on these hospitality businesses. If this continues, we will likely see more businesses being stripped of the pubs and greater numbers of people will prefer to drink at home.

If the government does not act, we risk losing the time-honoured tradition of the farmer drinking shoulder to shoulder with the accountant, the builder with the postman, the vicar with the clear. In short, the bedrock of village life. In addition to lowering the tax burden on businesses, the government should look at support it can offer to community pub schemes in which businesses come together to buy and run the local pub and we had one such success in my constituency which offers a shining example of such schemes.

I hope to see this success replicated by another local pub, which I'm proud to support in the effort to get the local reopen.

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He is making an excellent point about the importance of pubs as they about the importance of pubs as they heart of the local community and that is the case for towns and that is the case for towns and villages. Does he agree the measures announced by the deputy perimeter yesterday to support community yesterday to support community assets will help the tape of properties describing and would he

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properties describing and would he More is needed. I believe the Minister's Department must support Minister's Department must support this scheme or the pub chain or risk losing a vital component of rural life. Let's make the point, possible life. Let's make the point, possible businesses pay taxes, closed pubs pay no taxes. Thank you.

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pay no taxes. Thank you. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. It is interesting to see the Conservatives motion starts by acknowledging the important role acknowledging the important role hospitality businesses play in offering a first step in the employment ladder to " Young and employment ladder to " Young and often excluded groups. " If they care so much about young and often excluded people, I would have thought they would therefore have backed Labour's Employment Bill. Because right now, in Southall, young workers, and the many workers of Indian heritage in my constituency, can be sacked for no reason whatsoever.

They can be sacked in the first two years in the job. These are often hard-working qualified people but they are completely at the mercy of bad employers because the right not to be unfairly dismissed only applies after two years in a job. There are some great hospitality businesses in Ealing Southall including that Plough in Northfield. They do a lot
16:47
Deirdre Costigan Portrait Deirdre Costigan MP (Ealing Southall, Labour)
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to train and support their stuff. But over half of employees under 30 have been with their current employer for less than two years. employer for less than two years. 42% of black, Asian, and minority ethnic employees have been with ethnic employees have been with their current employer for less than two years. Compared to 28% of white workers. So the very young black and Asian workers the Conservatives claim to care about are exactly those who will be helped most by labours Employment Rights Bill.

In fact it is an all too common trick fact it is an all too common trick for some bad employers, where they for some bad employers, where they sack workers just before the two years are up. The Conservatives need years are up. The Conservatives need to explain why they think it is OK that the young worker can be sacked for no reason after 23 1/2 months in for no reason after 23 1/2 months in the job just so they don't get their rights. The Conservative motion also rights.

The Conservative motion also objects to labours plan to end exploitative zero hours contracts. exploitative zero hours contracts. Who do they think is most likely to be on those kinds of contracts? Oh be on those kinds of contracts? Oh yes, it is exactly the same, young and often excluded workers, and they actually don't care about them at all. Exploitative zero hours contracts don't just mean that workers don't know from week to week if they will be able to afford the rent. They also put power into the hands of managers who can use the threat of losing your hours to threaten and bully, you've guessed it, young, black, and Asian workers who are often the most honourable at work.



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She is making an excellent speech. Small businesses are my speech. Small businesses are my constituency often tell me that they want to be really good employers. It is something they take great pride is something they take great pride in. They get undercut by some of the bad employers. Would she greet is

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not only good for the worker, it is good for the business? I have still to agree with my honourable friend. The Employment Rights Bill is all about levelling Rights Bill is all about levelling the playing field so that great employers including hospitality employers that we already have in employers that we already have in this country, we can make sure that same efforts to look after the same efforts to look after the workers is broadened out to all of the industry. The Conservatives also the industry.

The Conservatives also need to stop pretending that this change that Labour is bringing in, that it would stop seasonal working that it would stop seasonal working in hospitality. Stop making things in hospitality. Stop making things up. A worker can stay on a zero hours contract if that is what they want. Many people will choose to do want. Many people will choose to do this if it fits with their lives. But where there is clearly a regular But where there is clearly a regular job there, and someone has been working those hours for at least three months, they will now have the right to a guarantee of those right to a guarantee of those minimum hours.

What is wrong with that? The Tories need to explain why they think it is OK for young and often excluded workers to remain at the second call of bad managers with no control over their hours and no financial security. Our hospitality businesses are indeed often the first step in the employment ladder. McDonald's in Southall is another great example of this. But the Conservatives are busy trying to knock people off that ladder. With labours Employment Rights Bill, we are helping workers climb up the ladder into decent well-paid jobs their families can thrive on.



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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I was going to speak about hospitality businesses are my constituency, but I say suitable lazy it was I say suitable lazy it was interesting speech but I don't think that was based on reality. The that was based on reality. The Employment Rights Bill, and I'm more than happy to explain the government an assessment will cost £5 billion. Businesses that there the cost of Businesses that there the cost of that have to make cost-cutting measures. It is usually young people.

There might be ethnic
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Saqib Bhatti Portrait Saqib Bhatti MP (Meriden and Solihull East, Conservative)
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benches opposite. I was listening to the speeches from the Minister. And sometimes an entertaining speech but sometimes an entertaining speech but the reality was, when I sat here I thought was a fundamental misunderstanding of what it means to make a profit now important it is to make a profit now important it is to businesses. It is literally the reason people go into businesses, to make a profit, to generate cash, and make a profit, to generate cash, and the National Insurance rise and that jobs tax, the Employment Rights Bill jobs tax, the Employment Rights Bill that will cost, it is a cost imposed by the Labour government and the choice they made to impose on businesses.

Hospitality businesses businesses. Hospitality businesses that are now suffering at the hands of the Labour government are having of the Labour government are having to make tough choices and that means seasonal workers won't be employed, or not as many. We are already or not as many. We are already seeing that. That is why when I quoted the chair of the UK hospitality, the Minister denied it hospitality, the Minister denied it was happening. The stats say something different. Over half the jobs lost since the budget have been as a result of labour's budget.

The as a result of labour's budget. The reason I ring that up is because I have been speaking to businesses since the budget, I've been visiting beautiful businesses, the National exhibition Centre which is a great importer of tourism which the Minister spoke about. By Birmingham International Airport. We have many others. There are huge amounts hospitality businesses but they are all suffering the cost of the jobs tax which is disproportionately imposed on, disproportionately affecting these businesses and it means the businesses are not investing because they are having to save that money to pay the Chancellor.

The problem I have got, I will take the intervention. His comments about costs on businesses, one of the costs of the costs of sick days has increased by £30 billion since 2018. I visited a business recently, and I'm not going to lie, they said it was a bit of a squeeze having to pay National Insurance but then they said, we are saving money on the sick days because people are getting the appointments they need in the NHS. He will know there have been 7 million more GP appointments.

Does he welcome that investment in the NHS or not? Does he also welcome NHS or not? Does he also welcome

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that sick days decrease by 14 million in the last year? I have a rude awakening for the

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I have a rude awakening for the member. It is a broader point about member. It is a broader point about this debate. I would suggest they turn on the news and start looking at what has happened to the bond market because we are seeing record high levels of interest rates where the government will have to borrow, the government will have to borrow, where the Chancellor who last year all these people back this fictitious black hole and now she fictitious black hole and now she has a real one that she has to deal with.

She is now going to have to deal with this. I don't what they think will happen at the Budget next time, it will either be cuts that they opposed in the welfare bill or they opposed in the welfare bill or it will be further taxes that will be raised on working people that they purport to defend and support. they purport to defend and support. The same working people who, when the taxes are imposed on businesses the taxes are imposed on businesses either it will hurt consumer sentiment or it will hurt those businesses and the businesses will have to make further job cuts have to make further job cuts because that is what they will have to do to survive.

Everything has a consequence. What the benches opposite fail to understand is it is opposite fail to understand is it is essential, they talk about supporting the businesses they should be lobbying the Chancellor should be lobbying the Chancellor right now to get a grip of the situation instead of allowing the situation to have ballooned completely out of control as a result of measures last October. The consequence of being thousands of job losses, thousands of businesses going under. I'm deeply worried for my constituents.

So as much as I found the opening Minister's speech interesting and sometimes entertaining, I thought it was quite disrespectful to the hospitality that. The hospitality is very loud. The chair the biggest represented body of hospitality's saying there is a problem and she is being ignored. I have to say hospitality businesses they will be knocking on the door and asking for answers. I would ask for a degree of humility because the reckoning is about to come. Respected economists are saying that, selected think tanks are saying it this is the consequence of the decision the Chancellor took.

And I reimposed a request for humility and understanding what the sector is going through.

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I am going to say after the next speaker I will reduce the time limit speaker I will reduce the time limit to four minutes. Members might like to think about length of interventions and whether interventions are needed at all

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interventions are needed at all given that there are still plenty wishing to speak. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. Hospitality businesses across my constituency are more than just places to eat and drink. They are the backbone of our community and the beating heart of our high streets. All across the streets. All across the constituency, these businesses make constituency, these businesses make getting a great place to live work, socialise. To every cafe owner, socialise. To every cafe owner, chef, pub landlord and staff member, to all our small businesses, I want to say thank you.

Your hard work to say thank you. Your hard work keeps our towns and villages alive in our local economy moving. Last week I was proud to welcome the vent Chief Secretary to the Treasury to
16:57
Michael Payne Portrait Michael Payne MP (Gedling, Labour)
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Chief Secretary to the Treasury to meet some of our fantastic small businesses, many of them in hospitality. We had a roundtable at a restaurant, a tapas restaurant that opened a year ago. My huge congratulations to Lucy and the brilliant team in the first year business. The Minister also had directly from many businesses. And we met passionate teams, Taste First, the Empress, and the Cafe. I thank the Minister for listening to businesses. And I congratulate him on his new role as the chief secretary to the prime minister.

Can I also take this opportunity to congratulate the landlady Emma on recently being awarded one of the best 500 pubs in England by the Telegraph. I also had a brilliant opportunity to enjoy a pint in the Abdication, the Four Bells and the Bread and capita, amongst many other brilliant pubs in Gedling. I will always fight for small businesses, it is my last year I launched my own annual Small business awards to celebrate small businesses throughout Gedling.

With so many amazing businesses across the constituency, our door is always open in Gedling to government ministers who wish to come and listen and support the local small

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business community in Gedling. My honourable friend is doing an amazing job of talking about the importance of small businesses and importance of small businesses and hospitality businesses and the community. Degree with meat extends beyond economic value but the value beyond economic value but the value they are more generally such as they are more generally such as friendly pub in my constituency which supports an inclusive basketball team and has raised £700,000 from their annual pilgrimage?

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I think of his intervention. I congratulate them on their congratulate them on their initiative and look forward to having a pint with him next time I am in his constituency. Gedling has nearly 3000 businesses. 90% of them are small or micro. Retail and are small or micro. Retail and hospitality alone supports over one quarter of jobs in the constituency. quarter of jobs in the constituency. These are not just numbers, they represent livelihoods, families, and futures. That is why I welcome this Labour government stepping in where the last Conservative government left a cliff edge.

Instead of running the rug under small businesses, we are providing a businesses, we are providing a lifeline. 40% business rate relief targeted when needed most. Because targeted when needed most. Because Labour does not turn its back on small businesses, we back them. More than 10,000 pubs and bars shut under the Conservatives. By contrast, this Labour government is acting. Business rates cuts from 2026, High Street Rental Auctions and a ban on unfair rental clauses, real measures to make our high street revive and thrive.

This motion from the members opposite talks about catastrophic choices. Members opposite should take a long hard look at themselves. On their watch inflation peaked at 11.1% in Toba 22, and food inflation hit 19% by March 2023. I hear chuntering from members opposite, the measures did not just hit household budgets in Gedling, they scarred small businesses across the scarred small businesses across the

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At the mixed roundtable, can you

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At the mixed roundtable, can you ask them how they are getting on with the National Insurance increase with the National Insurance increase and the result of the Budget which is four times inflation. Ask them

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that. I thank you for the intervention

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I thank you for the intervention but I do not think they need any lectures from them on running their lectures from them on running their businesses. Cafes, pubs and shops businesses. Cafes, pubs and shops fought to stay open for the Conservatives were too busy fighting among themselves to help small businesses. We have a plan for small businesses. We have a plan for small businesses to give them the support they need to grow and thrive and we they need to grow and thrive and we are seeing results.

The opposition are seeing results. The opposition talks about job losses but economic inactivity has fallen by 338,000 and inactivity has fallen by 338,000 and that is not rhetoric, it is progress under this Labour Government. The last Conservative government wrecked the economy, left inflation spiralling, and turned their back on the high street. The damage is clear to see in my constituency with vacant units on the high street, council cuts that have left town centre is less clean than before, and crumbling pavements and roads in and around the high street.

In just and around the high street. In just over a year, under the work of this premise getting people back into work and delivering a new deal for people. Yes, they do not like the work but they are getting the results and after 14 years of Conservative neglect, cannot come

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fast enough for my constituents. The hospitality sector is all too

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The hospitality sector is all too often overlooked but yet it is one of the most vital pillars for the of the most vital pillars for the economy and communities. In my constituency, we have 215 registered constituency, we have 215 registered businesses in accommodation and food businesses in accommodation and food services, contributing 4000 jobs, nearly one in 10 local jobs. The sector matters for the economy in
17:04
Aphra Brandreth Portrait Aphra Brandreth MP (Chester South and Eddisbury, Conservative)
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sector matters for the economy in Cheshire, contributing £370 million in Cheshire East and £390 million in Cheshire West but hospitality is being punished with high tax and more regulation. Since being elected, I've been listening to local business owners and I hear the same message time and again, claims are tough. They need policies that deliver sustainability, champion growth, secure the future of the sector, none of which had been delivered by the government and policy after policy have punished small business owners, especially in hospitality.

Don't take my word for it. I spoke with two pub owners earlier in the year and was told the 2034 Budget it is business hard with increase in National Insurance and reduced business regularly. What struck me most was his concern for his staff and community. It was not just what it about profits but young people and how vital their first job in a local pub can become a learning soft skills, gaining confidence, working as part of a team.

I also met with the managing director of a met with the managing director of a brewery, seventh generation business approaching its 200th anniversary and they run pubs across the north- west, not to mention hotels and he raised serious concerns about proposed changes to Business Property Relief. This brewery has consistently reinvested profits to innovate and contribute to the economy. Before the Budget, they had forecast the creation of 178 new jobs in 2025 and after the Spring Statement, William told me he is not sure this will be possible.

Then there is Jake at the Fire Station spoke about the impact of VAT and increasing which costs and how that threatens the ability to run much loved Cathy at the heart of the local community. Add that to the surging cost of utilities and the anti-growth and antibusiness measures in the Employment Rights Bill and it is clearly sector is under immense pressure. I want to emphasise how important hospitality is in rural communities like mine. Yes, the pub is a great place to grab a pint and a Cathy is a great place to grab a coffee but they are place to grab a coffee but they are much more.

One local Cathy provides a social concept for all people and I met Charles who is 80 years old and travels to have his breakfast there. For many, cafes and pubs are a lifeline which provide a space where people feel connected. From unfair tax to poorly thought out legislation, the government is putting cafes in restaurants and the jobs they support at risk. I will continue to speak up for hospitality services and thank them for everything they do for local economies.



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Anyone who knows my constituency will be aware how much publicity to me but do not get me started on the me but do not get me started on the local cakes and somebody. We have got many fantastic local businesses where people meet, celebrate birthdays, meet with friends, and birthdays, meet with friends, and they help to keep the high street alive. The owners did not sugarcoat it when I met with them and it will be straight about the pressure that they face and I listened to the honourable member but let's be clear, the pressure did not come out of nowhere and it did not just start of nowhere and it did not just start in July last year.

Under the in July last year. Under the Conservatives, more than 600 pubs and bars closed. That is the legacy with struggling-some local people losing new places that communities hold close. I know that things are hold close. I know that things are tough and I know how hard businesses are working and I applaud and appreciate all of what they are appreciate all of what they are doing and they commit to being a champion on their behalf. I am proud
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Katie White Portrait Katie White MP (Leeds North West, Labour)
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champion on their behalf. I am proud to be part of a government that is beginning to address challenges, cutting red tape with new cutting red tape with new hospitality and zones to support alfresco dining. I'm proud to be part of a Labour Party that is revitalising the high street. The new legislation is absolutely brilliant and I'm working with local businesses to take back a huge empty building which has been an eyesore on the high street. We are looking to bring it back into use under initiatives introduced by the government.

I am meeting with ministers about this next week. It is a cross government initiative. Businesses were steering at the cliff edge with relief set to expire but the government stepped in with a 40% discount for retail, hospitality and leisure properties, alongside a freeze in the small business multiplier. Together, the support package was worth more than £1.6 billion in 2025-26, saving the average pub thousands of pounds. I know ministers are looking closely at business rates over the next few months to ensure the long-term certainty and that is something that small businesses across my constituency with.

This government has done part every pub enthusiast can cheer, cutting the price of a pain. I'm proud to government is living community pubs the support they need to support communities and breathing life back into pubs and supporting the cafes and restaurants that make villages such brilliant places to live. We can see what success looks like and one local business to cover a vacant unit and was awarded within a year. There are a wave of female businesses making a star as well.

Vacancy rates are below the national average in our town with fitful hitting record highs and that is the spirit of local entrepreneurs and there will be many more stories like this. If we want strong communities we must back hospitality and, under Labour,

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we will continue to do that. When we speak about hospitality,

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When we speak about hospitality, pubs, restaurants, hotels, they are pubs, restaurants, hotels, they are not just places to eat and drink but at the heart of the committee and provide jobs, keep the high street alive, and make amenities better and alive, and make amenities better and stronger. Many of them tell me that stronger. Many of them tell me that they feel abandoned by the policies suggested today with an average of 13 pubs closing their doors every 13 pubs closing their doors every week and landlords in my week and landlords in my constituency like Shane Fisher who constituency like Shane Fisher who recently took on the Race Was in the town centre describe the measures as town centre describe the measures as simply unsustainable.

For him, his business rates are now higher than the lease. The business rates at the lease. The business rates at this level are unsustainable. this level are unsustainable. Similarly, the Castle Hill, famously run by the Chapman family since run by the Chapman family since 1950, they face similar challenges 1950, they face similar challenges and in 2024-25, they paid £21,000 in business rates and didn't see it is business rates and didn't see it is up to £52,000, an increase of £31,000, over double.

Combined with the National Insurance increase, it is upwards of £200,000 to the costs I was told that this kind of increase, coupled with VAT, it could end the industry. I hope the Mr agrees that these increases are unsustainable for small family businesses. -- The Minister. As a result, businesses are in survival mode. Hospitality businesses need support, not just taxes, and the benefit should be returned to services like policing and that is why I'm delighted we are introducing Street marshals, providing reassurance and safety to people in the town centre and I welcome the extra police officers.

We have campaigned for ability policing and it is essential we have visible patrols for confidence for the patrols for confidence for the public. Policing is seen as a cost and we fail to see the economic of it. Nowhere is it more true than for hospitality and encourage the government to go further on that. This business rate which hits hardest on the bricks and mortar businesses that make the town centre on top of that, the rise in National Insurance, it is nothing more than a tax on jobs and the burden that falls most heavily on businesses and sectors with a large proportion of part-time workers like hospitality who make up much of the workforce.



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I recently visited a pub which has just reopened and met a fantastic group of people who have created the Jeopardy Hospitality Project, reopening pubs which have closed down including a celebrity closed down including a celebrity chef, Tommy Banks. Pubs are the chef, Tommy Banks. Pubs are the heart of the community. People are taking these risks and trying to put the heart back in community and they deserve help from the government.

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deserve help from the government. I agree and I look forward to coming to visit him at his coming to visit him at his constituency. Hospitality is not asking for special treatment but for asking for special treatment but for fairness, a level playing field, the chance to compete, invest, thrive, chance to compete, invest, thrive, without being penalised by the tax system and that is why we have long called for districts to be scrapped called for districts to be scrapped and replaced with a more fair and replaced with a more fair system, shifting the cost to the landlord from the tenants.

The government must listen to the publicans, restaurant tours, because publicans, restaurant tours, because unless things change, more doors will close, more jobs will go, and communities across the country will

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In the summer I spent a tour of the constituency having over 80 surgeries and meeting residents surgeries and meeting residents face-to-face and hearing about their challenges. And taking in parts of Newcastle all the way up to the
17:16
Joe Morris Portrait Joe Morris MP (Hexham, Labour)
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Newcastle all the way up to the Scottish border, you certainly get a variety of casework conversations coming in. It would not have been possible to complete the tour without the generous hospitality of many businesses throughout the constituency, cafe's, pubs, restaurants, and others all open the door to myself and my team to meet with local residents and hear concerns. I would like to say thank you to St Marys Inn, the George Hotel, the Crown, ML, the Kings Head, the Duke of Mill, other businesses, and the Northumberland Arms, and the Rose and Crown and a coffee shop, the Blacksmiths Coffee Shop, and a lot of other churches village halls and organisations.

It is incredible to sit down with a cup of tea with your constituents and speak exactly but the issues that matter to them, the international issues and things like road parking and speeding concerns. I was able to visit a pub that recently opened after refurbishment, and I know the impact that hospitality is across the industry has on rural communities or in communities on the outskirts of Newcastle. Pubs, cafe's, define these committees, and empty buildings can truly blight the communities and lead to declining confidence which is why the first letter I wrote after the election was to minister urging them to release money for a business to reopen.

One of the issues raised with me by businesses was poor investment in road infrastructure, public transport, which often led to delays with workers getting to and from business, and a real issue with road surfaces and road resurfacing communication from local government. So a road had been closed, larger businesses had been notified and had not received notification and it cost them footfall. It does cause concerns, and the council does let down the west of the county.

Colleagues would find many issues facing the sector. It is something I hear every day, I said I would be constituency MP and I hope that 80 surgeries in four weeks details that I will do my best on that front. But ultimately making sure I'm hearing concerns directly from businesses without the political theatre we are guilty of does enable us to make sure we have the proper conversations with government and reflect back in the most effective way possible. If we don't recognise how vital hospitality is, and the defining enterprise for the town, and we risk losing something not just at the heart of the local economy but at the heart of what is English and being British.

There is nothing more emblematic of communities, whether it is in different areas and speaking to those people at the heart of committees who define us.

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I draw the attention of the House to my entry in the register of interests, and also I have received hospitality below the threshold from
17:20
Mike Wood Portrait Mike Wood MP (Kingswinford and South Staffordshire, Conservative)
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hospitality below the threshold from UK hospitality, but it offers more than just Food & Drink. The hub in Cornwall offered everything from the last village shop to jobs clubs, and even the village hairdresser and barbers. Think of the venues that provide drop-in sessions to tackle loneliness and isolation in our communities, and author pubs cafe's and restaurants up and down the country that funds grassroots sport and raise enormous amounts of money for charities and local goods courses.

It is why the previous government worked so hard to try and support and scrapped Labour's beer duty escalation, there was a freeze on alcohol duty and so that a pint in a pub always pays less duty than an equivalent one in supermarkets. And the rate relief for businesses taking three quarters of their bills, and not forgetting the tens of billions of pounds that was invested in supporting hospitality during the pandemic and as they recovered from the effects of Covid.

But even with that support, even though that support made the difference between surviving and going under for many, it was still tight and many carry a lot of Covid debt and still need support. Instead they have suffered continuous onslaught of taxes and higher costs caused by labour choices since the election. The changes to National Insurance contributions, and the business rates that piled extra money onto businesses. They really have hit hospitality businesses that have hit hospitality businesses that rely on many part-time staff, so no wonder eight in 10 operators have been forced to raise the prices.

The business rates more than doubling for a small independent pub or cafe meaning that the thousands of pounds are out of the till before a single point has been pulled, or a single breakfast has been served. These are fixed costs that many cannot meet. It is why 69% of businesses are running low required capacity because of staff and cost pressures. And why one in eight are planning to cut sites and two thirds have cut staff hours.

The chair of UK hospitality has put it plain when she said, at a time of the country needs jobs, government should be encouraging hospitality to grow and create jobs not taxing them out of existence. Madam Deputy Speaker, while we prepare for the pre- Christmas budget the government to take this seriously to take hospitality needs seriously, to fix the National Insurance contributions by raising the threshold particularly for small venues. Introducing exceptions for young people and returners to work. We need them to reconsider their plans to pile further burdens on small businesses next year, and we need them to come good on the promise to reform business rates and make sure that the bill says businesses are paying when that business rate reform finally happens is lower not higher than the bills they were paying last year, and to look at how some fax ability can be added to Covid loan repayments so that Covid loans don't threaten otherwise viable businesses.
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Rachel Hopkins Portrait Rachel Hopkins MP (Luton South and South Bedfordshire, Labour)
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Hospitality is at the heart of our economy will stop the sector contributes as the third largest employer in the country. In every one of our constituencies, there are beloved restaurants and pubs and hotels which contribute to our local economies as well as our local communities and cultural landscapes. These venues provide places for families to meet and friends to get together, to catch up, for special milestones and celebrations. If you might indulge me, I'll take a moment to congratulate my parents on their diamond wedding anniversary.

Just two we should go be celebrated with a pub lunch. Can I thank the team at the pub for making the lunch very special. There are no customer services. And similarly in a slightly more boisterous evening celebrating my niece's brilliant celebrating my niece's brilliant exam results. We are definitely a community that knows how to celebrate in Luton. An wedding venues are no exception. Whether it is venues Central, Crescent Hall, or the new grand Royal banqueting, they are fantastic hospitality venues.

As part of these wonderful celebrations we have course have fireworks. If I might take a moment to say that we need to be considerate when you're having fireworks we have too often in Luton, they are late at night in places that are disturbing our neighbours. I will put on record my support for my neighbour and friend, the member from Luton North to tackle fireworks to reduce the noise category available when buying them in public and review the current regulations regarding the online sale of fireworks.

Our Labour government continues to invest in my constituency and across the eastern region. Green lighting the expansion of London Luton airport and approving plans for the new Universal Studios theme park in Bedfordshire. Both key opportunities for local hotels and restaurants to thrive, with a significant uptake in footfall expected. And not to mention hospitality venues associated with the new football stadium. So I welcome the Minister and the government proposals to establish a visitor economy Advisory Council which will drive efforts towards the UK ambition of welcoming 50 million international visitors annually by 2030.

Boosting cultural activity across the country. Small businesses and hospitality face challenges, and throughout Plan for Change and our commitment we are turning the tide on 14 years of failure under the Conservatives. While they do that and delayed business rates reform creating a cliff edge for hospitality businesses, I am proud that this Labour government committed to revitalising a high street through permanent cuts to business rates, so went the temporary business rate relief was due to expire it was this Labour government that stepped in to deliver a 40% discount to retail hospitality and leisure properties up to a limit of £110,000 per business as well as freezing the small business multiplier.

Support package worth over £1.6 billion 2025/26 and from April next year, with rateable values of below £500,000, they will enjoy permanently lower business rates. I could go on, we are tackling the scourge of late payments. We are looking to ban upward only rent review clauses and we will expand start-up loans for new businesses. All of this in support of hospitality to be will invest in businesses to ensure local communities not only feel the

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economic benefits but they thrive. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. The hospitality is a major employer The hospitality is a major employer in my constituency of Bromley and Biggin Hill. Whether it is in
17:28
Peter Fortune Portrait Peter Fortune MP (Bromley and Biggin Hill, Conservative)
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Biggin Hill. Whether it is in Bromley town centre, in Hayes, with the excellent new Inn, and we are lucky to have many fantastic small and independent pubs, cafe's, and restaurants. But they are struggling to afford Labour's tax hikes. The government's decision to increase employers National Insurance contribution Izeh jobs tax. Businesses have to pay £900 on average every job they support. The situation is made worse by the decision to slash business rate relief for retail, hospitality, leisure businesses.

For an independent pub in my constituency with a rateable value of £98,000, changes in relief, an increase in the standard multiplier, have added £20,000 to its tax bill. This is all happening as energy bills and inflation rise again under Labour, increasing businesses costs and squeezing consumer spending. It is no wonder that few hospitality businesses can withstand labours tax rate. We have already heard about how 84,000 hospitality jobs have been lost over the past 12 months. I don't think the government appreciates the damage it is inflicting the on communities.

Much loved businesses are closing their doors. Local job opportunities are shrinking, and it is particularly affecting young people and older workers seeking part-time employment. This threatened to gut high street, knocking local pride and leaving places poorer. And to add insult to injury, Labour's changed inheritance rules tax any family business that survives its antibusiness policies when the next generation picks up the baton. As has been said many times before, these decisions expose the lack of business experience in the Cabinet.

Worryingly the government is looking to double down on this tax everything approach. The government needs to change course before we become a nation of shuttered shops become a nation of shuttered shops

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I declare an interest as a former

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I declare an interest as a former barman, former waiter, former chef. barman, former waiter, former chef.
17:31
Euan Stainbank Portrait Euan Stainbank MP (Falkirk, Labour)
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barman, former waiter, former chef. I'm coming wrong I'm not just coming to this debate as a former hospitality worker. Hospitality is a hard job and it can be a rewarding. I've made lifelong friendships doing I've made lifelong friendships doing back to back a wedding shift. It is perceived as an undesirable obligation occupation. The hospitality sector is the third- largest in the UK. A workforce with less employment rights than any other worker. Which rights should hospitality workers be excluded from? Should they be able to be sacked within the first two years for no reason? Should they be disqualified from parity and syncope? Should they not be entitled to contract? This motion states that if you work behind the bar, you should be entitled to less rights than if you work behind a desk.

I'd like to draw the attention of the House to the recently unionised workers in Govan. Young workers brought their employer to the table who will now value the cost of their This motion today sets a targeted approach. To bring this up for people working in hospitality. Not a pint is poured, not a meal is served without the express permission of hospitality staff is a reminder for all of us in this debate that workers are the hospitality sector.

I will be proud to stand up for my pals who work in hospitality who do essential, hard skilled work which this motion seems to diminish. Thank you. you.

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Thank you. We've heard a lot this afternoon about how they are afternoon about how they are improving the conditions for hospitality workers. That is not the hospitality workers. That is not the feedback I'm getting from my hospitality sector. Across my constituency, I represent 52 pubs and three breweries. Please, take me and three breweries. Please, take me at my word, I am trying to get to all of them. The house may have heard of occult YouTube channel heard of occult YouTube channel titled The Great British Pub Crawl titled The Great British Pub Crawl with a combined followership of over 200,000 subscribers.

The mission is to highlight the hospitality sector to highlight the hospitality sector across the country and that means across the country and that means having a drink at every pub in the country. I wish them every success country. I wish them every success in responsible alcohol take it -- alcohol intake.
17:34
Cameron Thomas Portrait Cameron Thomas MP (Tewkesbury, Liberal Democrat)
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alcohol intake. I thank him for letting me intervene. The Great British Pub Crawl was in Luton just last week.

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They said Luton had a variety of brilliant pubs and they really enjoyed their time. I don't doubt that. I'm sure it

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I don't doubt that. I'm sure it second only to Dewsbury. Over summer recess, a friend of mine reached out and told me who they were and asked and told me who they were and asked me to meet them. I sat down with me to meet them. I sat down with both of them at The Bell in. We have both of them at The Bell in. We have different occupations but the great thing about pubs is that you so often meet people from different backgrounds.

You get to know them and without knowing it, your social skills and the ability to speak and skills and the ability to speak and listen to other people develop. We discussed far more than just discussed far more than just drinking spaces. There are synonymous with British culture as drinking tea. Is complaining about drinking tea. Is complaining about the weather and even queueing. For the weather and even queueing. For 800 years, pubs like the Lack a provided places to work and tackle loneliness.

I love to visit The King loneliness. I love to visit The King Teddy to watch the Tottenham called Spurs play. -- : Beer duty Spurs play. -- : Beer duty is Spurs play. -- : Beer duty is under strain. The government must recognise the need to further reduce it. The rising national insurance contributions, disproportionately affects hospitality sector. I say it in good faith that I hope the government will change director. -- Direction.

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It's a pleasure to speak in this debate today. I'm proud to be one of debate today. I'm proud to be one of the vice chairs of the All-Party
17:36
Katrina Murray Portrait Katrina Murray MP (Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch, Labour)
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the vice chairs of the All-Party Group on Night-Time Economy. I have been taking the opportunity to engage with hospitality industries across my constituency and also engaging with companies that form part of the supply chain. I mean the independence, I mean the breweries and franchisees as well -- independents. Whether not talking to me about is wages. Are not talking about staffing hours and contracts. And even after pushing, they are saying that national insurance increases are a concern but it doesn't meet the top 10 of their

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problems. I wonder if she's aware of the

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I wonder if she's aware of the comments in the Scottish parliament from the tourism alliance. The chief from the tourism alliance. The chief executive said that the first-half of the year was pretty. He said that

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of the year was pretty. He said that the increase in National Insurance contribution had resulted in the loss of jobs. Is he wrong? I respect the common. I had not

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I respect the common. I had not heard it because I've been looking at other things today. What I know at other things today. What I know is what they are telling me. I think is what they are telling me. I think the Honourable member will reflect this from his own constituency. What this from his own constituency. What they are talking to me about is more fundamental issues of the fundamental issues of the hospitality business. They remind me that hospitality businesses in Scotland are closing at twice the rate that they have in the rest of the country.

That despite investment the country. That despite investment into the hospitality sector that came in the Scottish budget, it's came in the Scottish budget, it's the first time it had expressed to me that the Scottish hospitality me that the Scottish hospitality industry is starting off £200 million behind the rest of the country. They are talking about the vow of silence from the Scottish government on business rates. They talk to me about the need for certainty, about the improvement of planning processes.

How the big breweries and pub landlords... Means it is easier to invest in other parts of the UK than in Scotland. Planning for a new build hospitality business or a change of use takes years. Disproportionate cuts to local government, planning services by Scottish government, by ongoing budgets has had a wider effect across the whole sector. There will be issues that are in the mix. These ones make much of an issue, certainly within my sector locally. Last we can, as part of Scotland Loves Local Week, I was invited to join local councillors in visiting the relatively newly owned Urban Grind coffee shop in Kilsyth.

The owners told me about the struggles in getting the facility open for business. Getting the change of use from a vacant shop to hospitality business. The need to build a fence between outside the city area and the softly next-door. They also told me about their investment in the young workforce who combine studying with working. Their investment in the local area. It was good to see it so full. I hope those who go to Kilsyth get to visit this and other businesses.

It's a local economy. When local businesses use hotels in the local community, the local independents, there is more chance of the local community benefiting. Everybody talked about quality, about a changing market, a more discerning customer, a greater discerning customer, a greater proportion of businesses in food and soft drinks than ever before. You had to work harder to get customers but when you do, they provide high quality and good value and you get good value. In conclusion, our hospitality industries are continually changing as our habits change.

This is a good thing. The hospitality sector should fulfil a key role in our communities, which is way bigger than the blinkered ways that have been outlined in this amendment.

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Members will have seen that there are many members seeking to catch my eye. After this next speaker, I'm eye. After this next speaker, I'm going to ask that members reduce going to ask that members reduce their speeches and contributions to three minutes. There will be a three-minute time limit after this

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three-minute time limit after this speech. Peter Bedford. Thank you. As members of Parliament, we receive campaign email after campaign email every week on dozens of issues for environmental -- from environmental matters to calls for a general matters to calls for a general matters to calls for a general election. There is one concern that continues to cut through and that the support for our pubs and the wider hospitality sector. Why is
17:42
Peter Bedford Portrait Mr Peter Bedford MP (Mid Leicestershire, Conservative)
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wider hospitality sector. Why is that? The UK's hospitality sector is more than just about distance. It's a vital part of the social fabric of our communities. Whether it's the new cafe, servicemen's club or other business, these are not simply places to eat and drink are their places from -- for refuge from everyday life. There places where people come together. There places that sustain the spirit of our towns and villages. Yet what we see from this government? With Starmer the pub harm at the helm, they are determined to destroy the sector.

We have witnessed a series of reckless decisions that have shattered business confidence. Take the chance's disastrous Autumn Budget. The budget slashed the rate relief in the hospitality and leisure sector. Or look at the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, attempting to push through one of the most damaging employment bills through Parliament in a generation. I know but -- I know so because I sat on that committee. This will harm job creation and harm businesses.

I've spoken to countless publicans and small business owners who are feeling the strain. Not more so than the Royal Oak. Local hospitality businesses in mid Leicestershire was the same questions to me time and time again. Should they raised their prices and risk losing customers should they cut staff and reduce their opening hours just to stay afloat? Neither choice is fair, neither choice is sustainable. Yet across the country, we have seen the consequences. 83,000 hospitality jobs lost as a direct result of this government's actions.

And what of the future? We know the Chancellor is facing a self-inflicted £40 billion black hole as a result of her budget and with the reshuffle recently at number 10, with supporters of high taxes and high spending being promoted, there is a worry among businesses in mid Leicestershire that the worst is yet to come. It doesn't have to be this way. If the government would only listen to industry experts like UK hospitality, BPA or brokers like hospitality, BPA or brokers like Punch Pubs -- BBPA.

To reduce duty on draft beer and to lower VAT on products sold in hospitality settings, just like many other European neighbours have done. It is time for the government to stop punishing the sector and listen to the rational arguments of those who actually work and care so much about

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the industry they love. Can I remind members that we do

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Can I remind members that we do not refer to other members by name
17:45
Antonia Bance Portrait Antonia Bance MP (Tipton and Wednesbury, Labour)
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in this chamber? In the spirit of the Minister's

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In the spirit of the Minister's invitation, I'd like to invite any member to one of our brilliant Black member to one of our brilliant Black Country pubs or to come and eat orange chips with me next to a canal. Everyone in this chamber once rising wages for families who feel like they can take the family out for a curry on Friday night. That's why I was so disappointed to see in the wording of the motion before us the wording of the motion before us the wording of the motion before us ...

Tripartite with business, unions and academics represented. A body that consults business closely, that visits employers and talks the managers and also to workers. If the members opposite were to read the report of the last session of the Low Pay Commission they would find that it visited hospitality businesses in the city of Glasgow, speaking to workers and to people running those businesses. It is one of the very best, most consensual ways of forming government policy. I am disappointed in the attack on it.

Especially as at present it is chaired by a Conservative peer. I stand here today, as I always do, representing workers. Many hospitality workers represented by my own union, Unite. And I'm proud of the record of our government, for far from being a bill that attacks the hospitality sector, the Employment Bill is written with the hospitality sector in mind. The extension of day one rights is a policy tailor-made for the hospitality sector. 50% of all hospitality workers do not have two years service.

So they can be hired and fired at will. As if we were America. That is not what we want in our economy. Why should you get to one year and 11 months working for an employer faithfully and lose your job overnight, no process, no reason and you cannot pay the rent next month? We will stop it. Ditto 18% of hospitality workers are employed on a zero hours contract. The highest of any sector. Let's remind ourselves of the reality of that.

You cannot set things up because you do not know when you will be working. You may get a text message when you're stood at the bus stop, waiting your ship to start, sorry, mate, we do not need you today, do not come in. We will ban them. And sick pay, 279,000 workers in the hospitality sector and below the lower earnings limit and we will make sure they are entitled to sick pay. This is Labour delivering for workers, the Tories and the Lib workers, the Tories and the Lib Dems, along with MH in Reform, have ganged up together in the House of Lords to try Gut the Employment Rights Bill, we will not have it.

I

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do not want hospitality workers serving Mr Kere riding... Order, order...

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Order, order... I'm sad to say in the last year the number of payroll employees in this country has fallen by 149,000. We now have unemployment inching up We now have unemployment inching up towards 5% and youth unemployment much higher than that. Why do I much higher than that. Why do I mention that in the context of a debate about hospitality? Because this proportionally, so many jobs, tens of thousands of jobs have been lost in this sector. It is
17:49
Damian Hinds Portrait Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP (East Hampshire, Conservative)
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lost in this sector. It is absolutely fundamental to employment, along with the retail and care sectors. It is a shame that hospitality did not make it, was not deemed worthy for a chapter in the government Industrial Strategy. Because if it had been in the Industrial Strategy or if it had an employment strategy, they would not have done what they did in the Budget. This sector is incredibly

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potent, it is important to me personally. Incredibly important. It was

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Incredibly important. It was where I had my first and most of my career before I became a member of Parliament. It is more importantly more important in my constituency, more important in my constituency, as it is to every constituency in the country. In my case employing about 2000 people across 200 about 2000 people across 200 establishment, including a number of heritage pubs. It is important to heritage pubs. It is important to our nation. Partly because of all those jobs but also because an important part of the hospitality sector is the overnight hospitality sector, fundamental to tourism, which brings in such important which brings in such important expert earnings.

I do worry with all this talk of tourism taxes, we are starting to sound like... Tourism is in some way a problem to be mitigated. It does have issues, of mitigated. It does have issues, of course. But fundamentally tourism, especially inbound tourism, is an exceptional opportunity to grab. It is not just about the number of jobs, it is about the jobs for whom. jobs, it is about the jobs for whom. This sector is a key source of first jobs, jobs people came back to the labour market, including those the very furthest currently from work.

very furthest currently from work. And I think of some of the great white damp I hospitality business, white damp I hospitality business, including one of my old employers, Greene King, with people leaving the criminal justice system, for example. Of course disproportionately part-time workers. It has suffered terrible blows with this big increase in business rates. The two affect through national employment... Sorry, National Insurance contribution, both in the rate and the threshold. This proportionally affecting part-time workers. We hope that some relief in the delayed Budget when it eventually comes but there is something Ministers could do now, head of it coming into effect.

Or at least mitigate. That I'm talking about is the opponent rights will. I know zero hours contract have a sort of totemic importance for members opposite ever since their last leader made it such for them but we have to get past the idea that if you have a zero hours contract that is necessarily trying to exploit you, it is not. You may have in the NHS lots of bank workers working in hospitals on zero hours contracts, just as students will often work on zero hours contracts to be able to stay in those jobs even when they move between home and university.

Two things the government could do to mitigate it are to lengthen the reference period to reflect seasonality and to make sure there is an optimum right, rather than having to repeatedly offer it.
17:52
Chris Kane Portrait Chris Kane MP (Stirling and Strathallan, Labour)
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In my constituency of Stirling and Strathallan, castles and scenery major tourist but it's the people in our pubs, cafes, restaurants, clubs and hotels to make them feel welcome. In my constituency we have no shortage of world-class heritage and rural communities and scenery in pubs, cafes and reference. If you go to Stirling Castle you can see the great kitchens that provided the hospitality to the court of many Stuart monarch and after that you can go to the portcullis hotel, starlings oldest pub, the in built in 1973.

The birds and the bees nestle in the shadow of the Wallace Monument and oak tree in on the shores of Loch Lomond, with the real food cafe and the wonderfully named green welly store in the West Way. In Balaban... You can go to the 1314 pub or the King Robert hotel or the bar or the Tartan Arms, whose steak pie, in my opinion is the best in Scotland. Out west to Gartmore where the community took ownership of the bar and the restaurant now run as a charity, the macaroni there is a treat.

The Cross Keys pub and the farm shop and restaurant, they are great for a Sunday drive. The buttercup cafe, wonderful for lunch.... New life breathed into a hotel and of course we have world- famous Gleneagles as well. A mining village has the Gothenburg or simply the Goth, community pub founded in 1911 and one of the few remaining still running under the Gothenburg system with all the profits donated the community. During the mining strikes its hosted soup kitchens and supported minor strike funds.

When the opposition talk about their conversations with hospitality businesses what they leave out is what is as telling as what you put in. Too often they are not talking to or not listening to the employees themselves. They deserve the best employment rights and a fair wage for doing their job, which is why am proud of this Government landmark Employment Rights Bill and our commitments to the living wage. I set out this rollcall of hospitality not just to show my pride in Stirling and Strathallan, but because I had to cut out all the other points as the speech time limit has been reduced.

I also want to make a point often lost in these debates. For every venue that struggles, and there are venue struggling, including in my constituency, there are many more that are thriving, innovating and contributing to their communities. So let me end by offering my thanks So let me end by offering my thanks point up to Dartmoor. And with 2680 established -- establishment in my constituency, you are will be pleased to hear I'm not going to start naming them all. I would miss someone out, for sure.

Time and again this sector is overlooked and while being the third largest employer in the country, it was barely mentioned in the Government strategy, which I think was a huge oversight. And the combination of decisions taken by this government since July 2024 is now pushing many businesses to the brink. This summer I visited 52 villages across South Devon on my surgery tour, I did not have a drink in every one of them.
17:55
Caroline Voaden Portrait Caroline Voaden MP (South Devon, Liberal Democrat)
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But over and again I did hear the same message, that the local pub is absolutely vital, not just as a absolutely vital, not just as a place to eat and drink, but 1/3 space where communities can come space where communities can come together. -- 1/3 space. They also together. -- 1/3 space. They also offer a vital step into the working world for young people, not just any jobs but jobs that teach communication skills, teamwork, communication skills, teamwork, problem-solving, money managing, real world skills that will stay real world skills that will stay these kids alike.

I sold ice creams in an Edinburgh theatre both my daughters have and their strikes in daughters have and their strikes in the local pubs around Totnes, so I know how valuable these jobs are. With almost one million young people With almost one million young people aged 16 to 24 years not currently in education, employment or training, we should be doing absolutely everything we can to make sure everything we can to make sure sectors like hospitality are open, thriving and hiring. A couple of weeks ago I met a very successful weeks ago I met a very successful business owner behind Brock fish, which has 11 restaurants in Devon and Dorset.

He looked me in the eye and tell me directly that the choices being made by this choices being made by this government, having been made in recent months, are killing the industry. The latest rise in national insurance alone has left his business facing extra costs his business facing extra costs equivalent to opening an entirely new restaurant in one year. And the lower National Insurance threshold particularly hitting seasonal employers. At a time when the country needs jobs and when local communities need to be refined, the government should be encouraging hospitality to grow and create jobs, rather than shrink and restrict it with taxes.

This is not a luxury sector, it is a lifeline, especially in constituencies like South Devon, where every single village pub, seaside cafe, family run restaurant or hotel is a pillar of the local economy. I would very quickly like to commend the team at their Bullying in Totnes, who this week launched the UK's first ever level 3 award in regenerative and sustainable hospitality. -- Bull in. A course that will lead to pubs and restaurants across UK learning to reduce their environmental impact,...

Support regenerative farming practices and build long- term resilience to regenerative practices, a truly inspirational new

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course for the hospitality sector. Last week I was delighted to attend the reopening of what was attend the reopening of what was once my local pub when I first moved to Monmouthshire 25 years ago, The to Monmouthshire 25 years ago, The Star on the Hill, one of 6,000 UK pubs or bars that close during the pubs or bars that close during the 15 years of Tory neglect but it has been revived by the brilliant local community and the new landlords, who community and the new landlords, who have worked tirelessly to get it started again.

Other new hospitality
17:58
Catherine Fookes Portrait Catherine Fookes MP (Monmouthshire, Labour)
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have opened recently, Fusion Restaurant and... Monmouthshire is the... Capital of Wales, we have the food festival which has once been described as the Glastonbury food festivals. And you are welcome to come and visit it and see all the incredible hospitality we have on offer on the 20th and 21st of September. We have over 450 hospitality businesses, which employ over 2,800 people. And they play a vital role in making Monmouthshire a fantastic place to live and to visit.

From the black bear in, the Boat in, to my new local, The Halfway, who have also opened a new shop, so do not drive miles to a new shop, community interest company who is doing fantastic stuff community and employ people in our community too. I'm really really this government is determined to deliver the support that pubs and hospitality need to survive and thrive once again. Labour backs hospitality and unlike the party opposite, it is matching that message with meaningful action.

This Labour government has cut tax on pints and it is getting rid of the redtape that stops customers being able to take their afterwork pint out onto the pavement. The Welsh Labour government will help my constituents in Monmouthshire by providing a 40% discount on non- domestic rates for businesses in retail, leisure and hospitality for the sixth year in a row. This is the life support our pubs need and I know the government will continue to do the right thing by engaging with the sector about the challenges it is navigating and the help that it needs.

I look forward to spending as much time as this job will allow in the various pubs that I mentioned and all the cafes too. In Monmouthshire. And I can now be hopeful that the decade of neglect we can start to see those hospitality businesses go from

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strength to strength. There are over 300 hospitality
18:00
Rebecca Smith Portrait Rebecca Smith MP (South West Devon, Conservative)
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There are over 300 hospitality businesses in South West Devon and businesses in South West Devon and whilst this may not be the highest number in one constituency, considering the areas of countryside whether only residents are cattle and sheep, it is in my opinion a hefty number. 316 venues including the centre, who'd have thought it, the sad Cafe, the Conservative club, though exchange, Nelly's, old schoolhouse, the Kingfisher, the list goes on. Hospitality in South West Devon means over 2000 jobs, turnover of £91.7 billion and an economic value to the local economy of £50 billion.

With the coast of the moors to explore, hospitality plays a crucial role in our local community and tourism offer. Neighbouring constituencies have even more jobs and economic value at risk under this Labour government, that is why a group of local businesses have taken matters into their own hands and formed a campaign to save hospitality across Plymouth and South Devon as a whole and this is something I am proud to and this is something I am proud to Bringing forward employment rights and the impact of the minimum wage increase even for the youngest employers is hitting so hard that many businesses fear for the future.

The sector is reeling. They are simply not employing new staff and they are less inclined to employ young people and students. Why does

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this all matter? She is making an excellent speech about the importance of these about the importance of these businesses to her constituency. Does she agree with me that these businesses are often very -- at the heart of communities and without them many residents lose a vital

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part of their community. It is something coming to. They

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It is something coming to. They are a crucial part of our community. are a crucial part of our community. All of this matters because hospitality businesses across the country bring financial value to our communities. And because they bring communities. And because they bring social value as well, they are critical to a thriving tourism critical to a thriving tourism centre but also a key part of our centre but also a key part of our everyday life. Whether chatting over a pint to ease the loneliness or a pint to ease the loneliness or bringing family together for a meal that someone else has cooked to mark a special occasion.

The increase proposed by this government means proposed by this government means that the increased cost to the consumers who want to make the most of that opportunity which means less people are going out, something I'm hearing from constituents. Which hearing from constituents. Which means they then face closure which impact the local economy. It's a vicious cycle. It's something the party opposite seem oblivious to. It's a simple equation. And side disappointed to see the Labour Party are sticking their hand in the sun.

It's something that if we don't speak up to on these benches, there will be closures across the country. With the economic growth the party opposite keep posting about, I'm not sure if we can see it in our constituency.
18:03
Josh Fenton-Glynn Portrait Josh Fenton-Glynn MP (Calder Valley, Labour)
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Thank you. I am immensely proud of the hospitality sector in my constituency. Our community has always been amazing but it was recently made famous by the TV show recently made famous by the TV show Happy Valley. I always say to come to our constituency. The scenery is great but there are fewer murders. My constituency is a string of communities and a string of high streets. Between 2010 and 2018, Calderdale, our authority, lost nearly a quarter of our pubs.

That was before the pandemic. While I welcome the sudden interest in the hospitality sector from the benches opposite, that would be a new concern. Hospitality is vital to the future of our High Street as well. As we see, high streets move away from retail because of the internet and we are seeing people sell experiences in connection. Someone asked me recently what is the difference between a pub and a bar? A pub is a community living room. Part of this has to include challenging some of the pub rules which allowed one pop in my constituency have to pay more than double per week just one week after the six-month probationary period ended by invoking a clause to break the tie.

It's that kind of irresponsible practice which was allowed to thrive under the last government. I would urge ministers to please look at that. Members opposite want to focus on one specific tax, not the whole strategy for high street and frankly, is that lack of holistic thinking that has landed us in this mess. Too many tactics and not enough strategy. That's why I welcome the government's plan which has been welcomed by the sector, reducing rates, delivering £1.6 billion package that will save the average pub £3300 next year.

That gives the venue sometime -- space to breathe. It will help hospitality thrive. When hospitality thrives, communities thrive.
18:06
Robbie Moore Portrait Robbie Moore MP (Keighley and Ilkley, Conservative)
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Hospitality is under huge strain. Pubs are really struggling across the country and in my own constituency. We know that nationally pub closures are estimated to be running at one establishment a day closing. Thanks to this Labour government's hike unemployment -- employers National Insurance, hike on minimum wage and the looming threat of the Employment Rights Bill. The number of closures is only claiming. These punitive measures are pushing our pubs to the brink. This is coupled with disposable income earner families are tightening.

We know this in the Bradford district because council tax has raised by 10%, impacting all of my constituents that want to go across and use the money at their pubs but their belt tightening. In my own constituency, many pubs are coming under a huge amount of strain and overheads increasing and dare I say looking at closure. I met with the owners of the Dicky Bird recently and they were expressing the amount of financial strain they have been put under by policies made by this Labour government which has ultimately led to them having to make the decision to close.

I will give way. give way.

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My understanding is that the NHS trust that covers his constituency, trust that covers his constituency, the waiting list there has fallen. There is 32,312 additional urgent There is 32,312 additional urgent appointments and billions of pounds going to the hospital there to support building and other safety support building and other safety works. Would he welcome these investments which have been made investments which have been made possible by the National Insurance

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contribution increase? I have been working to get

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I have been working to get funding secured for the hospital. Very disappointing to many of my Very disappointing to many of my constituents that the timeframe has been pushed back by this Labour been pushed back by this Labour government to a completion date of 2013 -2035. This means that my 2013 -2035. This means that my constituents are now going to have constituents are now going to have to be waiting much longer for the new rebuild of Airedale Hospital to be completed because of decisions be completed because of decisions made by this Labour government.

-- made by this Labour government. -- There are so many fantastic pubs in my constituency. Fantastic establishments that I encourage everyone to go along to. By a pint of Timothy Taylor's, one of the finest brewers in this constituency. Even bridge has Brewery in my constituency produced some fantastic ales. But they want to be supported. -- ales. They are facing an increasing amount of overheads. The Turkey In -- Inn also experiencing the same level of challenges.

It is directly affecting communities. It hurts young people that are wanting to start out in the workplace. The government has rightly made a great deal of the importance of getting people into work. The Employment Rights Bill, the increase in employers national insurance, the hike on minimum wages making it much, much more difficult for the hospitality sector to recruit and want to provide those opportunities to our young people to go on, thrive and get some work experience, get job experience and earn an income.

And that is impacting many constituencies, not least those across the Keighley and Ilkley area which I represent.

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As the third largest employer in Britain come hospitality supports Britain come hospitality supports 3.5 million jobs and it is the beating heart of a high streets and committees. Are too long, this vital
18:11
Amanda Martin Portrait Amanda Martin MP (Portsmouth North, Labour)
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electorate has been let down by a decade of Conservative rule. As my Honourable friends from Falkirk and Tipton so eloquently pointed out, it is our workers that are hospitality sector. Workers like my cousin James, a fantastic head chef in my city, who has been a skilled professional over two decades and who like any office worker deserves the same workers rights and protections from the Low Pay Commission. This Labour government is turning the tide. Are backing hospitality with their new hospitality and night-time economy zones, cutting red tape's.

We are delivering lower business rates for hospitality in 2026. And with our safer streets mission, we are also reducing crime and keeping our workers safe. But we must also recognise the unique challenges facing seasonal hospitality businesses, particularly in coastal communities. These areas have remarkable booms over summer months but then face economic hardship over winter. This feast or famine cycle makes it very difficult for businesses to budget. This is where the English Devolution Bill becomes crucial.

Empowering mayoral and combined authorities we can develop targeted support for seasonal economies. A great example of this government working together to protect workers. Local leaders understand the community's rhythms. They know what businesses need support and they understand the impacts of both positive and negative this has on our economy. The hospitality sector, be that pubs, restaurants, hotels or leisure facilities, as well security staff, are vital. I want to praise all the fantastic workers and businesses in Portsmouth that go above and beyond in our city.

So many nice places to spend leisure time. We provide employment and contribute brilliantly to our economies. Be that The Cafe on the Green or The that The Cafe on the Green or The The Palace Cafe, The Palace Cafe, the The Palace Cafe, the Mothership The Palace Cafe, the Mothership in in the North and Cafe. I want to thank all of those and I went to say that I hope they continue to

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flourish under the Labour government. Hospitality has been battered by a perfect storm of punishing taxation, regulation and in soaring operational costs, leaving pubs and restaurants fighting for survival. In recent months, I have visited 36 of the 55 pubs in my constituency,
18:14
Gregory Stafford Portrait Gregory Stafford MP (Farnham and Bordon, Conservative)
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of the 55 pubs in my constituency, hosted a hospitality roundtable and sat down with the chain the Healy Group. Everywhere, the story is the same. Landlords asking how much longer can we keep the lights on. In this darkness, I bring a little ray of the light and hope to my constituents because during the summer recess, I continued my constituency pub tour, as part of my Best Pub Campaign and I'm delighted Best Pub Campaign and I'm delighted to announce that The Crown has one that -- won.

If the Chancellor ever finds herself lost in East Hampshire, she might fancy a visit. Judging by Labour's economic stewardship, she might choose to go somewhere else. Since May, for pubs in my constituency have been driven out by Labour's relentless war on small business, including a pub in Wexford. Six pubs closing every single week. The reason for that is from April this year, really collapsed to 80%, having the protection were doubling their pay. The hike in National Insurance, increase in minimum wage and adding £3 billion to their bill.

The chancer's 1p gesture was insulting. -- The chancer's. Pubs are making about eight 8p. That is the future that Labour is offering. Take The Bluebell, a family business run by Lucy and Robin. Pubs are the heart of our towns and villages and Labour of our towns and villages and Labour of our towns and villages and Labour

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... My constituency has a very

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... My constituency has a very proud reputation pubs, the pubs were nationalised for 60 years, I'm not going to call on the Minister to introduce nationalisation of our introduce nationalisation of our pubs. I do want to invite honourable gentlemen to agree with me that all of the things that I feel would help of the things that I feel would help our pubs would be to extend the Pubs Code to introduce a guest beer Code to introduce a guest beer agreement, in the same way Scotland has.

So we get more independent products into our pubs and get more people and footfall there.

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people and footfall there. It sounds like a very interesting

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It sounds like a very interesting idea and I would have course be supporting anything that I would think we get the pub industry driving. But I think to be frank, driving. But I think to be frank, the reality is what is happening is that Labour are destroying the opportunities for pubs to thrive. And a guest ale, I'm afraid, will go And a guest ale, I'm afraid, will go no way to solving the problem. I'm conscious of time, so just briefly touch on the back that it is not touch on the back that it is not just Labour in Westminster do not understand hospitality industry.

Liberal Democrats in Waverley are showing the same wilful blindness. showing the same wilful blindness. At the moment going through major infrastructure works in hospitality infrastructure works in hospitality and retail businesses that are struggling under it. I urge the council to act. They have the powers council to act. They have the powers to provide business rate relief that they have done nothing. Businesses that have operated since 1987, yet the Lib Dems sit on the hands, proving their share Labour's content. More businesses.

Hospitality is being taxed, squeezed and regulated into oblivion. If Labour carries on like this, the last orders Bell will not ring just for our pubs but the very character

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of British life itself. It was a great moment for me when

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It was a great moment for me when my daughter told a pint for me as my daughter told a pint for me as part of her duties as a barmaid in her first job, she worked her way through university. While the cash
18:18
John Cooper Portrait John Cooper MP (Dumfries and Galloway, Conservative)
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through university. While the cash that put in her pocket was vital, it gave her people skills, proof on her CV that she was reliable, she was trustworthy with cash and with valuable stock. Her work today is far removed from that bar but the foundations of her career were laid there. Yet across Dumfries and Galloway today, I hear hospitality businesses saying they are pausing giving youngsters just like my daughter that all-important first job. The increase in employers National Insurance contributions to 15% and the lowering of the secondary to £5000 are labours dreaded £900 ahead like spot curse on bright youngsters ready for the world of work.

In Scotland, matters are made worse by the antibusiness SNP, who are not passing on monies intended for business rate relief. And whose multiple unit pricing alcohol regime make scotch whiskey more expensive in the land of its birth than in many other places. Shrouded in pious health messaging, MUP has had little discernible effect on problem drinking and seems more like the SMP found police given free range. So spirits prices are high. -- SMP. Business spirits low. And no doubt the new well find a general, the tougher growth, tough on the causes of growth chief secretary to the Prime Minister will be seeking new ways to squeeze hospitality.

Knowledge is knowing that tomato is technically a fruit. Wisdom is being wise enough not to put a tomato in the fruit salad. The Pensions Minister is, improbably, holding the pen on the nightmare before Christmas Budget. He has a lot of knowledge about taxes but has he the wisdom not to deploy them in the growth basket? Hospitality is a canary in the economic coalmine. Pubs closing, restaurants open a couple of days a week at best, it is a late motive but this antibusiness government.

They think business is a dripping roast to be devoured on policies such as the Chagos surrender bill. Hospitality is terrifyingly sapping at the last chance saloon. But surely its last orders for this maladroit Labour Government, haven't they got three

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Hospitality is more than

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Hospitality is more than industry, it is a way of life. My first jobs in hospitality, potato rumbling in the basement, with my brother pot washing, then learning brother pot washing, then learning the bar where my sister Chloe work.
18:20
Vikki Slade Portrait Vikki Slade MP (Mid Dorset and North Poole, Liberal Democrat)
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the bar where my sister Chloe work. For 14 years I ran a hospitality business with my husband, Paul, in my constituency of mid Dorset. All of my children, like Sony others, have worked in hospitality. It is an amazing NANOGrav like and deeply rewarding. Through our business we supported family through the happiest and saddest days of their lives. We befriended the lonely, offered a daily catch of regulars and became a hub for community groups and local businesses but it is a tough life, unsociable hours, low pay, insecure conditions are the norm.

In the nine months since the Budget, over 80,000 people in the industry have lost their jobs, including my son, Isaac. I first got involved in local politics because of the crippling cost of business rates. And I continue to campaign on that today. I hear the argument that the Conservatives had no plan to continue the relief and that the interim measures are better than nothing but that is cold comfort to businesses facing massive increases, uncertain revaluations and assurance about what happens next April.

-- And no assurance. It is not just the rates, it is the whole regime. A brewery that runs so many brilliant pubs in Dorset explained that revaluation of the refit directly dis-incentivise investment. I know the Minister will say he cannot bring up the Budget by wanting to hear loud and clear that some hospitality businesses will not make it until April and those that do, unless they see a permanently lower cost, the writing is on the wall. Our national insurance I must take issues with the claim businesses are not wet.

Having run a hospitality business, when you take the front and back of house 12 hours a day, seven days a week, you need more and five full-time members of staff. My constituent Craig from Wimborne explained that national insurance costs for part-time workers or minimum wage increased 74.5%. Those costs have to be passed on and as well as affecting prices are likely to lead to lowest wage growth and job losses. The cost of going out is impacting heavily on Genesee. As a mum of four of them, I welcome the reduced drinking culture and healthier lifestyle, but I recognise the reality is that they are preloading at home to reduce the cost of a night out.

That is no criticism of the night-time economy, their costs have been increased and the responsibility of Martyn's Law but we must change our tax regime to reflect how society is changing. Finally, hospitality is not just about food and drink, it is about people, communities and the very

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identity of the United Kingdom. Let's not just save hospitality, let's celebrate it. Must declare an interest as the

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Must declare an interest as the chair of the Welsh hospitality foods chair of the Welsh hospitality foods and drinks... Appg. It has enormous economic value and wealth, contribute £4 billion to the Welsh
18:23
Llinos Medi Portrait Llinos Medi MP (Ynys Môn, Plaid Cymru)
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economy and employs more than 165,000 people. It also has immense social value, creating strong communities and providing opportunities for local people, often young people whose first job is in hospitality. However, the tax changes introduced by this Government have placed huge pressures on the sector. A report by family business UK show that changes to both business and agricultural property relief could result in over £10 million reduction in Gross Value Added, as well as loss of 167 local full-time equivalent jobs.

This pattern is seen across Wales. The report also finds that Wales will see some of the steepest declines in investment, turnover and employment due to the changes to bpi and EPI. Beyond the statistics, there are the real impact on family and businesses, such as the Kingsbridge caravan park, which has been a family owned for 26 years. They say that the increase to employers National Insurance have already forced them to reconsider employing wardens next year and have impacted the ability to reinvest in the park.

Analysis by the UK Hospitality Cymru shows that of the 164,641 job losses in the UK since the Budget last October, almost 89,000 have been in hospitality. And 2,600 of these are in Wales. Roughly equivalent to the number of jobs lost at Port Talbot due to the closure of the blast furnace but spread across our communities throughout Wales. The sector is crying out for the government to recognise the urgent situation, to acknowledge that many businesses are barely treading water. Unable to invest or grow.

Hospitality is an important source of skills and growth that Ynys Mon and Wales but this Government is putting the brakes on that growth and shortsighted decisions. Thousands of jobs have already been lost and future investment being cut back. To prevent a bad situation getting worse, the government must rethink its damaging increase in National Insurance contribution and the upcoming changes to Business Property Relief and give the Welsh hospitality sector the breathing room needs to flourish.

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Hospitality is at the heart of our local communities. It is the
18:26
Matt Vickers Portrait Matt Vickers MP (Stockton West, Conservative)
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our local communities. It is the best of British, the pubs we visit for a pint or two, the restaurants where we go to celebrate that special occasion or the bars that power our night-time economy. My constituency of Stockton West is home to some truly incredible businesses. If you have never been pre-night out in Yarm, you have never lived. We do not just love pubs because we love pint. The great British pub brings communities together. They tackle isolation, provide a safe environment for people to consume alcohol, they support more than one million jobs, help many youngsters get their 1st foot on the employment ladder.

The best ideas are usually the ones you come up with in the pub stop a place where community spirit is found... And I have more time and tell you about the innovative and generous support shown to local charities by pubs in my area. Like a number of MPs I host my pub awards, recognising and celebrating the best of our local pubs. This year's winner was Courtney an incredible team at farm pub. I'm looking forward to celebrating more of these in the coming years.

Places like Luna Blue, a fantastic local tapas restaurant and bar, the dairy, where you can get a warm welcome, great grab and all the village gossip while enjoying one of the best big gardens around. If Carlsberg made the burgers -- made big gardens... Or must visit eatery which arguably serves the best in the planet. I would love to have more about the incredibly -- incredible hospitality businesses, but time does not allow...

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He is making an excellent speech and demonstrating ways such a great and demonstrating ways such a great champion for Teesside but does he agree with me that many businesses are not just facing the prospect of possibly closing but possibly laying possibly closing but possibly laying off more and more jobs? In my constituency a fantastic award- winning bookshop, Delhi and Cathy winning bookshop, Delhi and Cathy recently wrote all their customers earlier this year to save their opening hours are going to be reduced because of Labour's tax on jobs.

-- And Cafe. It is the experience in the same his

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constituency? Very much so, I cannot agree

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Very much so, I cannot agree more. It is opportunities for young people get their first duty in the job market. Between October 23 and July 24 the number of hospitality July 24 the number of hospitality businesses actually increased and the number of jobs increased in the sector by 22,000 but surprisingly, after labours Budget, in that exact after labours Budget, in that exact same time period, we have seen 89,000 jobs losses. 89,000 people 89,000 jobs losses. 89,000 people unable to provide for their family, unable to live out their aspirations unable to live out their aspirations and dreams.

It is shameful it is a disgrace and it is not what people voted Labour for. Speaking to voted Labour for. Speaking to landlords in my part the well, I'm told how real the fight to save the great British pub is. Labour's job great British pub is. Labour's job tax, their Employment Rights Bill and the slashing of small business rates relief have meant that 89,000 jobs have already been lost in the hospitality sector. And UK Hospitality believe that this could be as many as 200,000 by the end of the financial year.

Labour's job tax means it costs 900 panel to employ the average employee. Meaning some hospitality businesses are unable to provide the opportunities those youngsters to get that first job. -- £900 more. It is part of the reason there is now 14 more -- 14% more people in this country unemployed, left unable to support their families or fulfil their dreams. Do not shake your head, it is true, it is a fact. In the last Parliament I campaign for the 75% discount on business rates for leisure, hospitality and retail businesses.

It was game changing for many. But with the stroke of a pen, the Chancellor stood about Dispatch Box and ended that lifeline thrown too many employers, with the average pub having seen its business rates increase from 3938 from £3938-£9451 and the average restaurant from £5051 to a whopping 12,122. The Government attack the set -- are taxing the sector to death. Hotels are closing every day...

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Order, order. I came to Parliament this week,

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I came to Parliament this week, fresh from the Edinburgh Festival, on which node I should refer the on which node I should refer the House to my register of members interests. Not, you'll be pleased to hear, as a performer Because every year I'm tempted across the border into the neighbouring constituencies by the absolute feast of music, by the absolute feast of music, theatre, dance, literature, comedy that is the Edinburgh Festival and every year contributes £400 million
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Christine Jardine Portrait Christine Jardine MP (Edinburgh West, Liberal Democrat)
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every year contributes £400 million to the city's economy. Hosted and supported by the hospitality industry. The hospitality industry which, in my constituency alone, is valued at £200 million, with 6 1/2 But that the bigger picture. The smaller picture is businesses that come to me every week with complaints. And I have to say this did not miraculously start in July of last year. This has been going on for the past decade, since the Conservative Government destroyed the economy on a whim a couple of years ago.

These businesses are suffering and they are under threat. Now, actually, the honourable member, I think, has said enough They are suffering and have for years. The honourable members know how important they are, not just in my constituency, not just to Edinburgh in Scotland, but to the United Kingdom because of the jobs they create and the people that they employ. And that little picture is about families dependent on those businesses. Families who tell me that they are unhappy with the national insurance changes.

They also tell me bigger businesses, like Edinburgh Zoo, fantastic tourist businesses, that the national insurance changes have added... The insurance changes have added... The Honourable gentleman is beginning to sound a bit like a parrot. Now, I won't give way. We hear you. I will repeat it to you again. Tourism tax. What we need in this country is to look at the burden our businesses are carrying, the national insurance Britain, the VAT which could be reduced, the many business rates.

I would appeal to the ministers to listen, to listen to the constituents we've heard from today, to listen to my constituents. To listen to the fact that if those businesses fail, our economy will not have the growth which this government and every other department -- and every other government depends on so much for our future. Because each of those businesses makes up an important part in that big picture. Those hundreds of millions, those billions of pounds that hospitality brings to this country.



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I will next be calling...

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I will next be calling...

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Can I thank Alex for helping me research. Over the summer recess, I research. Over the summer recess, I spent a couple of weeks -- some weeks in my constituency. I heard weeks in my constituency. I heard first hand from many owners and first hand from many owners and employees about the dire situation they are fencing -- facing, not just they are fencing -- facing, not just because of the rise in National Insurance contributions but also their bills. Am appalled these their bills.

Am appalled these policies have been branded as in policies have been branded as in favour of the industry. In my constituency, the hospitality constituency, the hospitality sector... Hospitality was one of the sector... Hospitality was one of the sector... Hospitality was one of the Others have already spoken... There is not enough time. There is others who have already spoken about retail, hospitality and leisure relief scheme so I won't dwell on that.

But just to say from hospitality businesses I speak to, they remain disappointed that the discount has not been adhered to. A small, independent businesses in my constituency warned me of the job losses that will become inevitable due to the policy changes, just to keep their doors open. If we
18:35
Gagan Mohindra Portrait Mr Gagan Mohindra MP (South West Hertfordshire, Conservative)
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continue down this path, we will only see higher levels of inflation, higher levels of unemployment. I higher levels of unemployment. I have no doubt that despite putting a massive burden on British taxpayers, taking the tax to its highest level, taking the tax to its highest level, the apparent lack of foresight will only lead to more dismay in the future. Other spoke about the number future. Other spoke about the number of pubs closed and job losses. Another point mentioned is the lack Another point mentioned is the lack of business expense from the government cabinet because running a government cabinet because running a small business and understanding the challenges associated with that challenges associated with that would hope inform a better policy decision than I see here.

Enclosing, decision than I see here. Enclosing, I look forward to further U-turns I look forward to further U-turns from this government. There is a long list of things they could be long list of things they could be doing better but I hope the Minister will at least give a glimmer of hope will at least give a glimmer of hope to those businesses.

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to those businesses. First of all, I'd like to address part of the motion before us this afternoon where I'm concerned the harassment of those in this sector, hospitality sector is put under threat by part of this motion. However, the motion as a whole, I strongly support. As somebody who
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Steve Darling Portrait Steve Darling MP (Torbay, Liberal Democrat)
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was brought up in a guesthouse in Turkey, you could say that the Turkey, you could say that the hospitality industry is in my blood hospitality industry is in my blood -- Torquay. It is in my blood. It is -- Torquay. It is in my blood. It is -- Torquay. It is in my blood. It is also one of the most deprived constituency. We have 370 constituency. We have £370 million constituency. We have £370 million income from this industry.

I warned income from this industry. I warned last November that the National Insurance hike would rip the heart Insurance hike would rip the heart out of our hospitality industry in the West of England and sadly, I have been proven right. The Office for National Statistics have highlighted how there are fewer jobs in the sector then there was and there is also quarter a list of there is also quarter a list of vacancies in Devon this summer.

As colleagues have highlighted, this is often entry level jobs, opportunities for students in the summer break to get some extra money to help them through their university time. It is extremely important. There has been a lethal cocktail of National Insurance hike, the cost of living crisis not only impacted the industry but those who are choosing to have less discretionary spend who are the punters, as well as the failure to properly reform as the streets that is absolutely essential. One sector of our tourist industry that has been hit is our aquariums.

They have also suffered from the bum Brexit deal that has left them with some real challenges of being able to Thank Thank you. Thank you.

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I will be starting windups.
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18:41
Nigel Huddleston Portrait Nigel Huddleston MP (Droitwich and Evesham, Conservative)
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I'm not the only one. I would like to thank all Honourable members for their contributions today from right across the UK. We've heard some very enthusiastic and supportive comments of the industry. It's just a pity that the policies are not so supportive because from the start, I have to say I wonder what planet those on the government benches are on. They are not talking to the same hard-working and angry people working in the hospitality sector as those on these benches are.

If they had been, I do not believe for one minute that they would have been so enthusiastically supportive of decisions and policies that are doing such immense damage to an industry that supports 3.5 million jobs in the UK. Hospitality is one of the most important economic sectors, are third biggest employer. It was a British success story. While we were in power between 2010 and 2024, we oversaw the creation of 4 million jobs. That 800 jobs a day. Nearly 20% of those new jobs created were in the hospitality sector.

Yet, since Labour's disastrous budget, nearly half of all jobs lost has been -- have been in hospitality. Were conservatives great, labour destroy. They say they're prioritising growth and yet they are implementing policies that do the absolute opposite. The job losses and hospitality are the direct result of the unexpected and unnecessary employer National Insurance increases that have added £1 billion to the cost of hiring people in this sector. They also worktop business rates and hospitality, costing the sector a further 0.5 million -- £0.5 billion.

As a result, a generation of young people will miss out on their first job opportunity in the sector. A sector that is particularly enthusiastic about employing young people. Almost 89,000 have been lost in hospitality. More job losses are expected. According to UK hospitality, 79% have had to raise prices and more than half have cut staff and this is before the Deputy Prime Minister's further attacks on business with her unemployment bill. Burgeoning UK businesses with more rows, regulations and costing businesses £5 billion according to businesses £5 billion according to the government's own assessment.

It The Chancellor will be remembered as the destroyer of jobs. This government was well under way to securing the unenviable record of every Labour government since the Second World War of leaving office with unemployment higher than when they started. It is the private sector, business and especially the hospitality sector that is paying the price for Labour's mistakes and poor judgement. I won't because of time. I spent a good chunk of the summer travelling round the country, meeting with key players in the tourism, hospitality, heritage and leisure sectors.

Everyone was complaining about how hard they have been hit by this government policy. The sector is angry. So angry in fact that they have given the Deputy Prime Minister a middle name. Good Anglo-Saxon one at that. They told me about job losses, and ability to invest, profit margins being eroded or disappearing, with seaside arcades closing their doors early or altogether because it was no longer profitable to stay together. The focus today is on hospitality but broadly defined when we consider these sectors together, it is clear they are all being hit.

Nearly every sector that seems to -- DCMS overseas has been hit. When you think about why people holiday in the UK, it's because of our heritage sites, our museums, our art, culture, festivals, sporting events. About 1 million people visit the UK just to watch football games alone. All of these sectors are being hit. These visitors spend £33 billion in our pubs, restaurants and hotels and so on. All of this is at risk. Tourism is a highly competitive We should always remember, inbound travel spend is of course all important export revenue.

When it comes to some of the comments raised by honourable members today, the Minister when he stood up said that this Government had made the difficult decisions to increase taxes. What a load of nonsense. The easiest thing for any government, the laziest thing for any government to do, is dip into other people's pockets. And spend money on their behalf. The difficult decision is being restraint on spending and reducing taxes, which is what we were doing before the election. The honourable member for Ealing Southall, Tipton and others asked why they were not supporting the deputy premises and Employment Bill, the answer is simple, because it will cause more unemployment.

-- Deputy Prime Minister. The honourable member asked why we are attacking the industry talking industry down, you're doing no such thing. We are talking this Government town and this government's policies down. The honourable member the Kings when share rightly pointed out that when we are in Government we quite rightly supported this sector to the rightly supported this sector to the tune of about £25 billion during the pandemic. With measures such as the furlough scheme, cutting DNT on tourism, cultural recovery funds, sport survival fund and others.

We were desperate to try and get the sector open as soon as possible and as safely as possible while the then opposition saying we should keep things close for longer. -- Cutting VAT. We'll take no lectures from them on that. The honourable member East Hampshire rightly pointed out the disgraceful fact that the hospitality sector is almost absent in the Government industrial strategy, despite its importance. The honourable member Mid Leicestershire also pointed out the need to talk to industry and then talk to the Treasury, credibly and confidently, with stats and information.

I do not believe they are doing that. It does not appear DCMS carries any weight with the Treasury, as evidenced by the policies that are attacking all of the sectors. The honourable member Stockton West invited us all for a pint, I will take him up on that offer, first-round is on him. As I bleed the honourable member Tewkesbury did, my neighbouring MP. Several members as well ask, especially from opposition benches, if we did not increase National Insurance, then where would the money come from? Answer a simple, we would not spend £10 billion on inflation busting pay rises for unions, we would not spend 8 billion on the National Wealth Fund, 7 billion GB Energy that does not produce any energy or £35 billion on the Chagos surrender deal.

There is the answer. The honourable member Bromley and Biggin Hill highlighted the additional concerns of this sector with the impending hits to inheritance tax, BPR and APR. Especially concerning to rural communities and the farming communities, point also highlighted by the honourable members for South West Devon and Chesters. But in conclusion, it is quite clear that from the policies and the debate we have had today, Labour simply do not get business. This perhaps should not be surprising, given how few members of the Cabinet have actually started or run a business or even worked for or spent any significant period of time in the private sector at all.

Therefore, if you have any understanding or appreciation for the hard-working effort put in by entrepreneurs, risktakers and business owners. Especially small businesses, who work so hard to employ others and generate taxes. Labour certainly know how to spend other people's money, they just had no idea how it is generated in the first place. But on these conservative ventures we have a party that is unapologetically pro- business. Because we know you can only have good public services if you have a dynamic private sector, generating the taxes to pay for them.

-- Conservative ventures. Supporting and enabling the private sector to succeed is good for private services to, so the hospitality and tourism sectors know they have a friend in the Conservative party. We appreciate them, we want them to succeed, we stood by them during the pandemic. We appreciated and applauded their growth when we were in power and we will be there again to work with them when this government collapses and weeping at the pieces once more. We will back business, we will revive the economy and bring opportunity and prosperity back to this country.

Do enterprise policies based on core conservative principles, lower taxes, smaller government, light regulation, personal responsibility, fiscal responsibility and living within your means. Principles that this party and only this party understand and abide by. The British people deserve so much better than the shambolic Labour Government and we will not rest until they get it.
18:51
Gareth Thomas Portrait Gareth Thomas MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Harrow West, Labour )
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And yesterday I sat down with some of Britain's great publicans. Award-winning Tommy Hicks and Mike of the three horseshoes, Ever Given from the Plough, just in from the famous Royal Thai, Matt of the arms and from the British Institute and in, to go to the details of the challenges they are facing. So I welcome the chance to underline government recognition of the importance of hospitality businesses in all our communities to the economic, cultural and social light of our country.

In this debate we heard many other examples of great hospitality businesses. Notably in the excellent speeches my honourable friends from Reading West,... Hatfield, Southall, Gedling, Leeds North West, Hexham, Falkirk... Tipton..., share and Portsmouth North. Hospitality is a sector that contributes well over £50 billion were economy and employs millions of people across the UK. Ticketless over young people who need to gain essential skills and experience to pursue successful lives. -- Particularly young people. It is often an entry bore the people want a second chance in life and I pay tribute to Greene King, working with six prisons across the UK, to provide inmates hospitality training and aiming to hire 400 prison leaders by the end of this year.

All the contributions in this debate underlined once again is that hospitality is truly the backbone of our high streets and the lifeblood of our communities. And yet, pubs, cafes, restaurants, hotels felt the full force of the headwinds unleashed by the economic incompetence of the party opposite. 14 years we had of letting down Britain's hospitality entrepreneurs. A cost-of-living crisis they unleashed. Interest rates that rose 14 times. Double digit inflation. Food prices driven higher by the disastrous Brexit deal they signed.

A party that said they were against redtape that made it ever harder for hospitality businesses to change and innovate. The last Government swatch resulted, according to the BPA, in 10,000 fewer pubs. And in total, when both shadow Ministers were in government holding key roles, 185,000 hospitality businesses closed their doors for good. Between 2017 and when they left office. We are turning the page on that grim period. With an Industrial Strategy to boost the whole economy by driving business investment, driving productivity and innovation across the economy.

Businesses across all sectors have welcomed this approach. They welcomed the marked departure from the permanent chopping and changing policy that marked the 14 years with the party opposite in power. Posterity, the disastrous traitor with your and the revolving door of prime Ministers and chances. -- Disastrous trade deal with Europe. We are doing things to many. Setting out comprehensive research... Help businesses plan not just the next 10 months, but the next 10 years and build. Focusing on on Al Khor Industrial Strategy sectors will benefit the rest of the economy too.

Creative industries, for example. -- Our core industrial sectors. It is a little rich the opposition to be talking about omissions from the Industrial Strategy. When they gave up on having any kind of Industrial Strategy in their final years in office. And all of this work is complemented by a small business strategy, tobacco entrepreneurs, to invest in the High Street, to improve access to finance. -- To back entrepreneurs. And bill business capability. Inspired by the US more business Administration, we have launched our business growth service to be the go-to place to get the advice and information you need as a business entrepreneur.

We are determined to take -- tackle the scandal of late payments at the party opposite never did. And our business rates, let us remember what the party opposite promised six years ago. In their 29 Manifesto, they said they would begin a fundamental review of the business rate system. But they never did. And on business rates relief, they were due to reduce it to zero from April this year. We stop that, we have kept relief and we will deliver on our manifesto commitment to create a fairer business rates system that protects the High Street, supports investment and drives growth.

We will deliver permanently lower multipliers for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses. And I certainly agree with my honourable friend that it is staggering that the Scottish government will not commit to do the same. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had to take difficult decisions in the Budget last year to fix the public finances. A £22 billion black hole in the public finances. The decision she took were vital to help build the long-term stability that is essential for investment, for creating jobs and crucially, for putting more money in people's pockets.

While I understand the sectors concerned about the increase in National Insurance contributions, we are protecting the smallest businesses by increasing the employment allowance to £10,500. One million employers, thousands of them hospitality businesses, will pay no NICs at all and more than half of employers will see no difference or gain from this package. We are committing to reducing regulator burdens to bring down the cost of food, that is why we are negotiating an SBS still with the European Union and why we launched the licensing task force.

Rebalancing the licensing system to better support business growth, cultural vibrancy and safety. Will bring further work forward in that space very shortly. We also introduced hospitality support scheme to co-fund projects with the hospitality sector Council priorities. Such as supporting initiatives to encourage local investment, particularly in rural communities. Party opposite axed all funding to support pubs, in particular support for pubs, the pub is the hub. Successful pubs, cafes and restaurants depend on people having the money in their pockets to go out and enjoy what are the best hospitality businesses in the world.

Wages grew faster in the first 10 months of this government than they did in the first 10 years of the party opposite time in office. Disposable income is set to rise this Parliament at twice the rate they did during the last Parliament. Business investment is up almost 400,000 jobs were created in our first year in office. Five interest-rate cuts and business confidence is rising. The party opposite gave up on pubs. They gave up on entrepreneurs. They gave up on cafes and restaurants and hotels, they gave up on small businesses and they gave up on the high street.

They never had a strategy for growth and they certainly did not have a strategy to back hospitality. And they certainly did not offer any new ideas today. We do have a strategy for growth and we will continue to work with the hospitality industry to address the challenges it faces and I urge the House to reject the

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motion before us. The question is as on the Order

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The question is as on the Order Paper. As many as are of that opinion, say, "Aye". Of the opinion, say, "Aye". Of the contrary, "No". Division. Clear the The The question The question is The question is as The question is as on The question is as on the The question is as on the order paper. As many as are of that opinion, say, "Aye". Of the opinion, say, "Aye". Of the contrary, "No".

Tellers for the contrary, "No". Tellers for the Ayes, Harriet and... Tellers for the
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19:15
Liam Byrne Portrait Petitions Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP (Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North, Labour)
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present this petition on behalf of the residents of Birmingham and Solihull not. The petition declares that my constituents believe that the UK should recognise Palestinian statehood. For too long we have now witnessed the most unimaginable horror inflicted on the men, women and little children of Gaza, as the government of Mr Netanyahu seeks to create a desert and call it peace. This is an existential moment for the Palestinian people. The ICC has described war crimes, crimes against humanity.

We cannot now in this house turn away. We have a duty to act as a country and we have a responsibility to act now. 140 countries have recognised Palestine. We should act, we should act unconditionally, unreservedly and urgently. The government has set out a plan to recognise Palestine and they must uphold this. To show that we in this country match words with deeds so my constituents call for recognition as part of a plan to stop this barbarity, the killing, and to release hostages.

The pernicious request that House of Commons urges the government to recognise Palestinian statehood. The

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Petition, recognition of

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Palestinian statehood. I beg to move that this House do not adjourn.

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not adjourn. The question is that this House do know adjourn.

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do know adjourn. It is a real privilege to be in the chamber today to speak on the topic of diabetes in sport. But
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Chris Bloore Portrait Chris Bloore MP (Redditch, Labour)
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football community,... And Diabetes UK for their valuable sport work. I'm so grateful for the number of I'm so grateful for the number of people who have contacted me with their stories both uplifting and their stories both uplifting and heartbreaking. The fact that we are debating this here today is a huge moment for those who have championed moment for those who have championed this issue for a very long time. I hope it marks the start of a national conversation about unlocking the potential of young unlocking the potential of young athletes with diabetes, reassuring their families and supporting the incredible volunteers and coaches incredible volunteers and coaches who make grassroots sport such an asset in our communities.

Diabetes affects 12 million people in the UK, affects 12 million people in the UK, one in five adults living with diabetes or prediabetes. It is not diabetes or prediabetes. It is not only a serious condition in itself but also a gateway to other devastating health problems. Each devastating health problems. Each week in this country, diabetes contributes to more than 980 strokes, 181 rotations, 680 heart attacks and 3,000 cases of heart failure. It accounts for almost 30% failure. It accounts for almost 30% of cardiovascular disease deaths.

This is a public health challenge on and Nscale possibly good news is that physical activity is one of the that physical activity is one of the most powerful tools we have to combat these outcomes. Exercise improves how effective the body uses improves how effective the body uses insolent, whether naturally produced or injected, and help keep glucose levels within the target range.

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I thank my honourable friend forgiving way, is a type 1 diabetic I completely agree with what his I completely agree with what his said, excellent -- exercises next said, excellent -- exercises next way of moderating your blood sugar levels and can also moderate stresses and sayings -- strains, stresses and sayings -- strains, which I'm sure he will get onto...

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Anything we can do to support people into sport, I'm a big fan of. I thank my honourable colleague

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I thank my honourable colleague for her intervention, I will get onto hypos in a minute, but she is aptly right, it's about the

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aptly right, it's about the insurance -- assurance and education is important. Can I commend honourable gentlemen for bringing this forward. He is right to highlight the issues and I wondered if I could tell him and I wondered if I could tell him about a young boy from back home. I read an article on diabetes.co.uk regarding young man, his name is Ryan Nixon Stuart, from County Down. Who has set his sights on Olympic victory... After being diagnosed with type one diabetes.

His story I believe is inspirational. I know the honourable gentlemen wants to honourable gentlemen wants to inspire people. This young man I believe inspires others to try and do the same. To those who wrongly do the same. To those who wrongly believe that diabetes and sport do not coexist. Thus honourable member not agree that we must do more and the Minister is here, Ministers always helpful, and I'm pleased to see her in her place, to do more to educate our young people to break down these barriers to sporting.

I

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should have declared an interest as a type two diabetic, apologies. I thank honourable member for a contribution, is aptly right, today contribution, is aptly right, today whether to try and talk about the issue of stigma, connected particular type one diabetes in sport and some of the inappropriate sport and some of the inappropriate serotypes that exist that put people serotypes that exist that put people off taking part in sport and impact their health. He is absolutely right their health. He is absolutely right to raise that.

Of course exercise can reduce the amount of insulin needed, help maintain a healthy weight, improve blood pressure and weight, improve blood pressure and cholesterol and support mental health by reducing stress and improving mood. There is no single improving mood. There is no single best form of exercise for everyone with diabetes, what matters is moving in ways that people enjoy and can sustain. Whether playing football, dancing or simply going football, dancing or simply going for a walk. I want to tell you about Chris Bright, he was actually in the gallery today.

I met Chris play gallery today. I met Chris play futsal, fast paced football game that uses a heavier ball that has become popular leisure centres about become popular leisure centres about a decade ago. In some unfamiliar, it a decade ago. In some unfamiliar, it is used by many football fanatics, you might know Max Kilman at West Ham who played it as a young man and Ham who played it as a young man and presenting the. Chris and I live close to each other in Redditch and often travel to games together.

He was not any special talent but someone who worked incredibly hard, someone who worked incredibly hard, great care of himself and always strive to be better. Our team was successful in modern day crazy gap of players of many nationalities but none of us do the extra challenges Chris faced managing his diabetes alongside training. I was shocked one day driving him home again when I noticed he was injecting himself because his levels were not where they needed to be. Looking back, I cannot believe how underprepared we were as a club or even as his teammates to support him.

Chris is an unrelenting personality, that is why we went on to play international futsal for Wales, but more than that, Chris has been a pioneer in the diabetes community, setting up diabetes football community and what share will stop a football team for all ages and genders and provides peer support, making sport accessible and welcoming to people diabetes. Chris's work is the act make exactly the kind work needs replica cross country. These personal efforts cannot replace systematic change. That is why want to share some of the changes -- stories of parents whose children with diabetes have faced misunderstanding when tried to take part in sport.

One told me their ten-year-old child was basically forced out of their property because the managers that they cannot cope with the child's condition even though the parent attended every match and training session and never asked for special treatment. They moved to another team where the manager also had type one diabetes that help. Parent to describing actively discouraged from sending their son to a swim lesson. They offered to monitor and treat him as needed, train staff member and comply with safeguarding checks but were told no parents were allowed in their and their offers were refused.

The only than another swim class after contacting swim England directly. Parent three shared their experiences with karate. After diagnosis they were initially welcome because the steps done also had diabetes but after Hypo instituted on the sidelines they were asked to leave the dojo for not keeping still, which is deeply upsetting and leading to stop going to classes. Another parent spoke to me about the child not been selected school cricket tournament because the sports league did not want the hassle of caring for him.

Even though children with no interest in cricket were picked. Another child asylum from hockey matches after a coach had a clear misunderstanding and frustration about managing Hypo incident. The child eventually switch the football and the support was better. Even at elite level, a young player in a Premier League performance quad experience exclusion from games after Hypo. Despite family reassurance that he was fit to play. The choke -- coach never checked in and they did not get a minute in an important match, leaving him deeply upset and ultimately leaving the club despite their apologies and offers training for coaches, or because of stigma about something that affects

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millions of people in this country. I thank my honourable friend for giving way and for encouraging giving way and for encouraging awareness of the often unnecessary barriers faced by people with barriers faced by people with diabetes. We know the huge physical and social benefits of sport, yet and social benefits of sport, yet stigma, lack of awareness and poor policies, as described, often hold policies, as described, often hold people back. Only a small fraction of coaches have diabetes training and nearly half of people with diabetes say they have been told diabetes say they have been told they cannot be active.

As my honourable friend agree that we need sporting bodies to prioritise awareness, education and tackle stigma? So everyone can enjoy sport.

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stigma? So everyone can enjoy sport. I thank my honourable member for

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I thank my honourable member for her very articulate summarisation of where we are. We cannot risk losing these athletes from our system or these athletes from our system or even just risking those people want to play sport at say a grassroots level, just to keep fit and stay level, just to keep fit and stay friends with their colleagues. What we know from the stories that I have told today is the stories expose a told today is the stories expose a systematic failure, many coaches, schools and sporting bodies are ill-equipped to support people with ill-equipped to support people with diabetes.

Creating unnecessary barriers to participation and enjoyment. Of 184 national governing bodies in sport, only 20 mention diabetes on their websites or in policy documents and just four have specific policies to support people with diabetes. This is simply not good enough, especially as chronic health conditions become more common. We need national sports bodies to take leadership, to work with healthcare professionals and organisations like breakthrough T1 D and Diabetes UK to train coaches and volunteers and provide clear accessible policies.

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I thank my honourable friend for giving way. Diabetes is a disability that is often hidden and not well that is often hidden and not well understood and people with it suffer from all the stigma that my friend from all the stigma that my friend has described so very well. It is complex to manage, especially... And complex to manage, especially... And when it relates to sport. So parents when it relates to sport. So parents and families and young people listening to the people with diabetes themselves is vitally important.

We have benefited in important. We have benefited in Worcester from the fantastic foundation and the Chris Parnell Rugby Academy. And I've seen incredible benefits for people with type one diabetes in our area. And type one diabetes in our area. And it has shown how sport can actually facilitate community and better facilitate community and better awareness and better management for people with diabetes. Does my honourable friend agree with me that sport should actually be a place sport should actually be a place where diabetes is managed to an elite level and provides a real elite level and provides a real opportunity for people with diabetes to own the condition and own their sports performance?

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sports performance? I thank my honourable member... My neighbour, for his contribution. He is absolutely right, it is He is absolutely right, it is incredible how sport can be used to reach people about health conditions, that so many areas of our public policy campus I think he is absolutely right. The Equality Act 2010 provides legal protection against this rumination that golf remains between policy and lived experience. People with diabetes are often the hidden disability as my colleague reference, face ongoing this rumination and a lack of adjustment in schools, workplaces, leisure centres and committee setting.

Diabetes is a major public health crisis with far-reaching consequences. Physical activity can prevent convocations, improve quality of life and reduce the burden on our NHS. When diabetes prescriptions account for 15% of total medication cost. Health in a consistent, people from the most deprived areas are twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes and are less likely to have access to green

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space and save affordable places to be active. We need targeted support for these communities to close this gap stop Thank him for giving way. He

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Thank him for giving way. He talks about health inequalities and one of the things we do know is that diabetes is one of those illnesses diabetes is one of those illnesses where people of some ethnicities are more predisposed to that illness. So more predisposed to that illness. So as well as health... Sports organisations, focusing on improving organisations, focusing on improving information and support for people with diabetes, can we also ensure... with diabetes, can we also ensure... With honourable gentlemen support that they also support people from that they also support people from different ethnicities to ensure that health inequalities are ironed out at every level?

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at every level? Honourable member for his

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Honourable member for his contribution and I completed agree with him and I know his a champion for reducing health inequalities in his constituencies, I completed his constituencies, I completed agree with him and hope that will be part of what we would do with this. In conclusion, the unpredictability of diabetes is a real obstacle to of diabetes is a real obstacle to physical activity. Ignorance and stigma should never be. People with stigma should never be. People with diabetes deserve to feel safe and confident participating in sport and exercise, coaches, teachers and volunteers must be equipped with the knowledge and skills to support them.

At the moment the status quo simply is not working and I hope the Minister, after today's discussion, would be willing to meet me and community leaders and stakeholders to work together and plan how to deal with this. Together we can put place a clear pathway to ensure that everyone, regardless of their health condition, can participate in sport and as a nation we can reap the

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rewards of improved health outcomes. Thank you. I'm really pleased to be responding to this debate and I
19:29
Stephanie Peacock Portrait Stephanie Peacock MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) (Barnsley South, Labour)
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responding to this debate and I would like to begin by congratulating my honourable friend, the member for Redditch, for securing it. And it has been a well attended adjournment debate and I would like to put on record and thank members both the intendant and the interventions, interventions from across the House, South Northamptonshire, Strangford,... It shows the real interest in this incredibly important topic. And of course honourable member made a powerful speech, outlining why this is such an important issue and an important debate.

This Government has set out a bold and ambitious agenda for change, sport and physical activity has an important role to play in this. As the Member for Redditch has outline. I want to open by discussing this before addressing some of the specific issues that he has raised. Not only does physical activity play a vital role in tackling the health challenges facing our nation through helping to treat and manage a wide range of health conditions but we also know that community sport can play a major role in building confidence, teamwork, supporting life skills future generations and improving community cohesion.

However, despite these benefits, we know that over 1/5 of adults, that almost 12 million adults, are inactive. And over 1/3 of children do less than 30 minutes of activity a day. The data shows us that this varies by geography, ethnicity and socio-economic background. And I have seen this firsthand my own constituency, where people live for seven years fewer compared to people on the other side of Barnsley. That is just one example and that is replicated across the country too often.

Put simply, too many people are inactive and it is disproportionately higher among certain demographics, including people with long-term health conditions such as diabetes. Our ambition is that everyone, no matter their background should be able to Being physically active is important in reducing the risk of chronic diseases in adults and managing those long-term conditions. Evidence shows that physical activity prevents 3.2 million cases of long- term health conditions per year, including 600,000 cases of diabetes, equating to over £10 billion worth of health savings each.

Moving more can reduce the risk of diabetes. For example, moving work and reduce the adult population's relative risk type II diabetes through -- by 40%. Being active helps manage the condition, reducing the likelihood of serious complications like strokes and heart disease. It can help people with type II diabetes manage their blood glucose levels. Of course, being physically active is also very good for mental health and physical health. My honourable friend knows all of this which is why he has brought forward this debate.

The challenge for all of us is therefore how we ensure that those with long-term health conditions such as diabetes can benefit from physical activity. Whilst every person's experience is unique common barriers for people with diabetes include pain, fatigue and sometimes the necessity of regular injections. I was particularly concerned to hear that people with diabetes have also reported stigma has held them back from doing more physical activity,

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as we heard earlier. I will give way. I congratulate my Honourable

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I congratulate my Honourable friend for bringing this debate and for so brilliantly setting out the challenges and opportunities we have. One of the brilliant have. One of the brilliant innovations in mental health care in recent years has been a social prescribing in general practice and prescribing in general practice and so much of that involves encouraging people to be physically active. With people to be physically active. With the Minister agree that it is vital that we ensure that where we are signposting people to take part in signposting people to take part in sport, so the should be promoted to be both diabetes without the stigma

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be both diabetes without the stigma of being rejected from those places? He makes an important point. I will discuss that very shortly. I will discuss that very shortly. I believe we all share responsibility believe we all share responsibility to help people manage health issues, such as diabetes, within sporting environments. Reducing activity as part of the government's health part of the government's health agenda. Art health -- a tenure health plan takes a mixed approach health plan takes a mixed approach to physical activity -- 10-year.

We will invest 400 million into local sport facilities and develop new schools partnerships to support schools and partners to establish healthy behaviours early in. Sport England 's partnership showed that where investment is designed with local people were nearly 4 percentage points lower. I will give

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way. As chair of the APPG for diabetes, I made a visit to the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield. We were talking about having a one-stop shop for people with diabetes. One of the things they want to do is deliver those they want to do is deliver those services in communities and places.

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services in communities and places. Can she tie this in with what she is describing now two I'd love to hear more about his

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I'd love to hear more about his example. It brings me neatly to the example I was going to share. I recently have seen some of the work in action myself when I visited Essex because their local Essex because their local councillors are waiting to knit services together. There building strong links between the health and strong links between the health and leisure sectors, including locating services to people have easy access to a wide range of physical activity opportunities and this means long- opportunities and this means long- term health conditions could also -- term health conditions could also -- people can access activities that not only improve physical health but are social as well.

In some cases, are social as well. In some cases, contribute to get people back into work. An excellent example shared by my noble friend is that local NHS and social prescribing services which can direct individuals with long-term conditions to various local physical activity opportunities like public leisure, working groups and nature-based exercise as part of the's funding for green social prescribing. This is linked with over 2000 GP practices offering a free option for all abilities. Now, moving on. And sport England provides guidance for their partners.

It funds the faculty of sport and exercise, which provides resources to healthcare professionals to integrate physical activity conversations into routine clinical care, including specific guidance on type I and type II diabetes. The program provides free learning and support resources to inspire and strengthen clubs and organisations offering sport and physical activity as well as the professionals that work with them. It shares the latest information to help overcome challenges and make most of opportunities available to the.

This includes sharing case studies and signposting further guidance for enabling those with long-term health conditions to exercise safely and effectively. The national campaign funded by sport England inspires and supports people to be active by showing people living with a variety of conditions cover both visible and invisible, on their own journeys to be active. This campaign aims to address the stigma around exercising with disabilities and long-term health conditions to reduce exclusion from physical activity. The member for Redditch gave some very powerful and moving examples of the impact stigma can have.

That's why it is clear there is more to do to ensure that the sports sector provides the support needed for those with diabetes. We expect our national governing bodies to put plans in place to support those with long- term health conditions and to make the most of training and support on offer from the professional development body for sport and physical activity and the NHS. Whilst the research my honourable friend -- refers to conditions like diabetes, the legal requirement to not discriminate is clear.

This research shows clear are clearly areas for improvement. This disparity suggests a need for more coordinated and robust approach to supporting individuals with chronic health conditions in sport. Therefore, we will continue to look for further access, including through sport England, conducting research with Diabetes UK on the barriers to and opportunities for physical activity and I'm very happy to meet with the honourable member and the organisations he mentioned. Ultimately, this is about every part of the system, from the NHS to national governing bodies to local partners playing the part to make sport and physical activity easier

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to access and manage for diabetes. One of the key points for me when

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One of the key points for me when it comes to exercise and sport... My sister, when she was at high school, diabetes was a massive stigma for diabetes was a massive stigma for her. She was told she would have to her. She was told she would have to inject in the bathroom. Will she help to ensure that people with diabetes have positive experiences

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starting with school? Can I thank my honourable friend

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Can I thank my honourable friend and indeed members across the house for bringing forward this debate. As much as anything, public awareness is key on this issue. I hope he can is key on this issue. I hope he can take from my response of the government is committed to getting more people active. And hugely passionate about this agenda know passionate about this agenda know that being physically active about that being physically active about playing sport is genuinely life changing. It can be even more important for those with long-term important for those with long-term health conditions so I will happily continue to work with the honourable member for Redditch on this issue going forward.



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going forward. The question is that this house

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The question is that this house do now adjourn. As many of that opinion, say "Aye". The Ayes have opinion, say "Aye". The Ayes have
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