Hospitality Businesses

Lord John of Southwark Excerpts

Tuesday 27th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Stockwood (Lab)]

I clearly acknowledge that there are challenges in the economy that are not of the making of the last 18 months alone. Changing consumer behaviours post Covid are a challenge for our overall economy. However, to restate what I said before, we need to get the economy back on track overall and ensure that we have fiscal responsibility. This package alone will cost us £4.3 billion. The additional announcements today on pubs and live music venues take that even further. On average, that relief will be more than £1,600 per pub. We have to do all that while balancing the overall needs of the economy with fiscal responsibility, which the Government set out as major proposals.

[Lord John of Southwark (Lab)]

My Lords, in my maiden speech last week, I spoke about the important role that local government can and should play in creating and curating place. With that in mind, does my noble friend the Minister agree that local authorities can be good and effective champions for the hospitality and retail sectors in their areas?

[Lord Stockwood (Lab)]

I welcome the noble Lord to the Chamber and thank him for his question. The national government policy that has been announced since we came in is critical, and local government is an even more critical part of leadership in our communities. Not only do local authorities offer the vision and ability to enact what is relevant to each community but they are close enough to the hospitality sector and individual high streets to know what is needed. I thank the noble Lord for his contributions so far and look forward to working with him.