Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the economic and social contribution of hospitality businesses in towns and city centres.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
We recognise the vital role hospitality businesses play in driving economic growth and strengthening community cohesion across the country.
We plan to introduce permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties with a rateable value under £500,000, We have reduced alcohol duty on qualifying draught beer products, saving the sector over £85 million annually. We’ve introduced a Hospitality Support Scheme to co-fund projects aligned with Department for Business & Trade and Sector Council priorities, such as supporting initiatives like Pub is The Hub to encourage local investment. We have also launched a licensing taskforce to cut red tape and remove barriers to business growth.
DBT ministers are pleased to be working with the Hospitality Sector Council on strategic issues facing the sectors. The next Council meeting in July will be addressing the topic of the sector’s social and economic contribution.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the threats facing religious personnel in Khartoum and surrounding regions, following the reported killing of a Catholic priest; and what representations they have made to call for an urgent ceasefire, the protection of clergy, and unhindered humanitarian access in that region.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK strongly condemns the reported killing of Catholic priest, Father Luka Jomo, in El Fasher, North Darfur, and also condemns the reported bombing of churches which killed and injured multiple people. We will continue to recognise the issue of Christian persecution globally, alongside the persecution of other individuals on the basis of their religion or belief. Our Special Envoy for freedom of religion or belief, David Smith, made a statement at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on 4 March, highlighting our concerns regarding the coercion of non-Muslims in Sudan to change their beliefs through denial of work, food aid, and education. On 15 April, following the London Sudan Conference, the co-chairs' statement called on relevant parties to enact an immediate ceasefire, and allow and facilitate rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to all areas of need through all necessary routes in adherence with their obligations under international humanitarian law. On 27 June, during an open briefing at the UN Security Council, the UK echoed the UN's calls for humanitarian pauses in Sudan, emphasising the need for aid to reach those most in need.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to exempt hospitality businesses from the business rates surcharge as part of a review of support for high street sectors.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
We are creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street and supports investment.
To deliver our manifesto pledge, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values below £500,000 from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that RHL businesses benefit from much-needed certainty and support.
This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so we intend to apply a higher multiplier from 2026-27 on the most valuable properties - those with rateable values of £500,000 and above. These represent less than one per cent of all properties, but cover the majority of large distribution warehouses, including those used by online giants. The final design of the new higher multiplier, including the rate, will be set at Budget 2025.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many times the working group with the Northern Ireland Executive established by the Government under paragraph 157 of the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper has met; and to which ministers it reports.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Windsor Framework Working Group committed to in paragraph 157 of the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper has met formally three times. It is jointly run by the Cabinet Office and the Executive Office in Northern Ireland. My Rt. Hon. friend Nick Thomas-Symonds MP is the responsible Minister in the Cabinet Office.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications for freedom of religion or belief in China following the introduction of China’s “Measures for the Administration of Religious Activity Venues” in 2023, which require religious leaders and venues to demonstrate loyalty to the Communist Party.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Chinese regulations on religious activity severely restrict religious and cultural expression in China. This Government stands firm on human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief. We raise our concerns at the highest levels: the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Chancellor and Energy Secretary have all raised human rights recently with their counterparts.
More broadly, this Government champions freedom of religion or belief for all abroad. We work to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora, and through bilateral engagement.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Windsor Framework: Joint Statement, 10 June 2025, what "significant work remains to be done" in the movement of agri-foods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and what are the "pending issues" for that movement of agri-foods.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Windsor Framework simplified the arrangements for moving retail goods (predominantly agri-food) from Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared to that which was required under the original Northern Ireland Protocol.
As part of the deal, agri-food goods for sale in Northern Ireland need to be labelled ‘not for EU’. These requirements have been phased in over time, with the final phase set to be introduced on 1 July 2025.
We remain committed to implementing the Windsor Framework in good faith, and this includes establishing compliance with the requirements of the simplified arrangements. As part of this we are working closely with industry to monitor and improve application of the Framework. This includes supporting business readiness for the next phase of ‘Not for EU’ labelling commencing on 1 July.
In addition, as set out in our Common Understanding, the Government will take forward a new UK-EU SPS Agreement which will further simplify the movement of agri-food goods within the United Kingdom. As a result, we expect there will no longer be a need for SPS paperwork when moving agrifood or plant products and the requirement to label goods ‘not for EU’ will diminish significantly.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Windsor Framework: Joint Statement, 10 June 2025, what further work is required for the deployment of new facilitations in the customs area for freight and parcel movements.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The arrangements for the movement of freight and parcels that were agreed under the Windsor Framework came into effect on May 1, 2025. The UK is now finalising the delivery of certain IT systems and we continue to monitor the progress of the systems to support the functioning of the arrangements as agreed in the Windsor Framework.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the total cost of administering the Duty Reimbursement Scheme.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC has not made an estimate of the cost of administering the Duty Reimbursement Scheme. Resourcing is spread across several different teams and systems, so it is not possible to apportion the spending related to the Duty Reimbursement Scheme specifically.
HMRC has published extensive guidance on the scheme and will continue to support businesses to use it effectively.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the average time taken for a business to reclaim duty under the Duty Reimbursement Scheme from the date of application to receipt of money.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
As of 14 March 2025, the average processing time for a Duty Reimbursement Scheme claim is 16 days.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the treatment of Christians in Eritrea, particular with regard to prolonged detention without trial; and what steps they are taking with international partners to seek the release of prisoners of conscience and to hold Eritrean authorities accountable for any violations of religious freedom under international law.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We consistently raise human rights with the Eritrean government, including religious freedoms. We advocate for the end of detentions based on religion or belief, as we have stated at the UN Human Rights Council. We call for all those unjustly incarcerated to be released. The UK's Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea raised human rights during her most recent visit to Eritrea in April and the UK supports the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Eritrea, voting in favour of his mandate renewal in July 2024.