Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of potential litigation relating to (1) asset valuation, (2) debt liability, or (3) interference with shareholder rights, in relation to British Steel.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government will always abide by our legal obligations and offer fair treatment to all businesses. This includes meeting our responsibilities under the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act.

We are currently in close discussions with the owner of British Steel to agree a pragmatic and commercial solution to the current situation. We do not comment on the content of these live discussions.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in designing the compensation scheme required under section 7 of the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act (2025) in relation to British Steel.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

We continue to work with Jingye to find a pragmatic, realistic solution for the future of British Steel. This will include provision for a compensation scheme upon the end of the intervention under the Act, should there be a claim that the intervention caused loss.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cumulative financial impact on hospitality businesses of an overnight visitor levy alongside existing cost pressures, including energy prices, wage growth, and taxation.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The government carefully considers the impact of tax measures on communities as well as on hospitality and tourism sectors. Evidence from international and domestic schemes suggested modest rates have minimal impact on visitor numbers.

Where changes are made to tax policy, relevant impact notes and assessments are published at fiscal events and otherwise as necessary in line with the government’s usual practice.

The overnight visitor levy would be a discretionary power for Mayors, who would be responsible for considering its local economic impact, including on hotels, consumers and visitor numbers. Mayors will need to decide whether to implement a levy, subject to a local consultation on specific proposals. This consultation will inform their decisions regarding whether and how a levy will be applied, and how any revenue is invested in their region.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of an overnight visitor levy on rural and coastal businesses which rely heavily on domestic tourism.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The government carefully considers the impact of tax measures on communities as well as on hospitality and tourism sectors. Evidence from international and domestic schemes suggested modest rates have minimal impact on visitor numbers.

Where changes are made to tax policy, relevant impact notes and assessments are published at fiscal events and otherwise as necessary in line with the government’s usual practice.

The overnight visitor levy would be a discretionary power for Mayors, who would be responsible for considering its local economic impact, including on hotels, consumers and visitor numbers. Mayors will need to decide whether to implement a levy, subject to a local consultation on specific proposals. This consultation will inform their decisions regarding whether and how a levy will be applied, and how any revenue is invested in their region.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what comparative analysis they have undertaken of total visitor costs in the UK versus competitor destinations; and what assessment they have made of the potential impact of an overnight visitor levy on the UK’s relative attractiveness to international tourists.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Visitor levies are common in Europe and the rest of the world. All other G7 countries already have some form of tourism or overnight accommodation levy in place.

On the 26^th of November 2025, the Government opened a consultation seeking views on the design of a new Mayoral power to create visitor levies on overnight stays in England. It contained questions on who will be granted this power, which powers will be devolved, the allocation and use of revenue funds, consultation and consent requirements, administration of the levy, its scope and the rate structure. The consultation closed on the 18^th of February 2026.

The Government has engaged with the tourism sector through the consultation process. Evidence from international and domestic schemes suggested modest rates have minimal impact on visitor numbers. Mayors will need to decide whether to implement a levy, and, if so, consult on specific proposals. This will inform their decisions regarding whether and how a levy will be applied and how any revenue is invested.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have benchmarked the UK’s overall tax burden on visitors against that of other major international tourism markets prior to considering the introduction of an overnight visitor levy.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Visitor levies are common in Europe and the rest of the world. All other G7 countries already have some form of tourism or overnight accommodation levy in place.

On the 26^th of November 2025, the Government opened a consultation seeking views on the design of a new Mayoral power to create visitor levies on overnight stays in England. It contained questions on who will be granted this power, which powers will be devolved, the allocation and use of revenue funds, consultation and consent requirements, administration of the levy, its scope and the rate structure. The consultation closed on the 18^th of February 2026.

The Government has engaged with the tourism sector through the consultation process. Evidence from international and domestic schemes suggested modest rates have minimal impact on visitor numbers. Mayors will need to decide whether to implement a levy, and, if so, consult on specific proposals. This will inform their decisions regarding whether and how a levy will be applied and how any revenue is invested.