Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, if he will ask the Pubs Code Adjudicator to collect and publish data on the number of tied pub tenants who have served a section 26 notice and (a) secured a Market Rent Only agreement under the Pubs Code and (b) had their application opposed on the basis of Ground G(1) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Pubs Code only applies to pub companies with 500 or more tied pubs in England and Wales. The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) is responsible for regulating those covered by the Code and exists to protect fairness in the tied business relationship. The PCA obtains data from the six Pub-Owning Businesses (POBs) that it regulates through its annual compliance report, published on its website: Reporting Data to the PCA | PCA. This page also contains information about the uptake of the Market Rent Only option.
Neither the PCA nor Government holds data about the use of s30(1)(g) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what information his Department holds on the number of tied pub tenants (a) who have served a section 26 notice and secured a Market Rent Only agreement under the Pubs Code and (b) whose applications did not proceed because the landlord relied on Ground G(1) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Pubs Code only applies to pub companies with 500 or more tied pubs in England and Wales. The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) is responsible for regulating those covered by the Code and exists to protect fairness in the tied business relationship. The PCA obtains data from the six Pub-Owning Businesses (POBs) that it regulates through its annual compliance report, published on its website: Reporting Data to the PCA | PCA. This page also contains information about the uptake of the Market Rent Only option.
Neither the PCA nor Government holds data about the use of s30(1)(g) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what information his Department holds on the number of tied pub tenants who have been served with a section 25 notice citing Ground G(1) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 since 1 January 2024.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Pubs Code only applies to pub companies with 500 or more tied pubs in England and Wales. The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) is responsible for regulating those covered by the Code and exists to protect fairness in the tied business relationship. The PCA obtains data from the six Pub-Owning Businesses (POBs) that it regulates through its annual compliance report, published on its website: Reporting Data to the PCA | PCA. This page also contains information about the uptake of the Market Rent Only option.
Neither the PCA nor Government holds data about the use of s30(1)(g) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he has had discussions with the Pubs Code Adjudicator on the use of Ground G(1) under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 in relation to tied pub tenants seeking a Market Rent Only option.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Pubs Code only applies to pub companies with 500 or more tied pubs in England and Wales. The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) is responsible for regulating those covered by the Code and exists to protect fairness in the tied business relationship. The PCA obtains data from the six Pub-Owning Businesses (POBs) that it regulates through its annual compliance report, published on its website: Reporting Data to the PCA | PCA. This page also contains information about the uptake of the Market Rent Only option.
Neither the PCA nor Government holds data about the use of s30(1)(g) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of economic growth opportunities in West Dorset.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
DBT works closely with other Government Departments and local partner organisations, including Local Authorities, to collect intelligence and data, identify issues, and support the development and delivery of initiatives to open up opportunities for economic growth, including employment and industrial land.
Whilst West Dorset faces structural challenges including high public sector employment dependency, below-average productivity, skills shortages, and rural connectivity constraints, opportunities have been identified in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, agritech, marine/maritime, tourism, and defence — with the Dorset Innovation Park at Winfrith representing the most significant near-term employment land development opportunity in the West Dorset area.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the financial sustainability of pubs in West Dorset.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Department has not made a specific assessment of the financial sustainability of pubs in West Dorset. However, the Government recognises the pressures facing pubs and the wider hospitality sector and continues to engage closely with industry representatives, including through the Hospitality Sector Council.
Since April 2026, every pub has benefited from a 15% cut to their business rates bills, followed by a two year real terms freeze. Around three‑quarters of pubs will see their bills stay the same or fall, saving the average pub around £1,650 this year. A review will be launched into how pubs are valued for business rates, working with industry and valuation experts ahead of the 2029 revaluation. We have increased and extended the Hospitality Support Fund to £10 million over the next three years so we can continue to help more pubs, help more people into work and find more innovate ways to improve business productivity and sustainability. Later this year we will bring forward a new High Streets Strategy, to help reinvigorate our communities.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent support his Department is providing to hospitality businesses in West Dorset.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
We are delivering permanently lower business rates multipliers for over 750,000 retail, hospitality and leisure properties, backed by a £4.3 billion support package over three years, including transitional relief to protect businesses from large bill increases following revaluation. Later this year we will bring forward a new High Streets Strategy, to help reinvigorate our communities.
To support employment costs, we have more than doubled the Employment Allowance to £10,500 and maintained NICs reliefs for younger workers and apprentices. We have increased and extended the Hospitality Support Fund to £10 million over the next three years so we can continue to help more pubs, help more people into work and find more innovate ways to improve business productivity and sustainability. The temporary Great British Summer Savings scheme reduces VAT from 20 per cent to 5 per cent on selected hospitality, leisure and visitor economy activities between 25 June and 1 September.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to review support available for rural pubs in constituencies such as West Dorset.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Department keeps the adequacy of support for rural pubs under regular review, working closely with HM Treasury and industry representatives including through the Hospitality Sector Council. Since April 2026, every pub has benefited from a 15% cut to their business rates bills, followed by a two year real terms freeze. Around three-quarters of pubs will see their bills stay the same or fall, saving the average pub around £1,650 this year. A review will be launched into how pubs are valued for business rates, working with industry and valuation experts ahead of the 2029 revaluation.
We have increased and extended the Hospitality Support Fund to £10 million over the next three years so we can continue to help more pubs, help more people into work and find more innovate ways to improve business productivity and sustainability. The temporary Great British Summer Savings scheme reduces VAT from 20 per cent to 5 per cent on selected hospitality, leisure and visitor economy activities between 25 June and 1 September. Later this year we will bring forward a new High Streets Strategy, to help reinvigorate our communities.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of rising costs on hospitality businesses in West Dorset.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government recognises that hospitality businesses, including those in West Dorset, continue to face cost pressures arising from wider economic conditions. While the Department has not made a specific assessment for West Dorset, we remain in regular dialogue with hospitality representatives, including through the Hospitality Sector Council, on the challenges facing the sector.
We are delivering permanently lower business rates multipliers for over 750,000 retail, hospitality and leisure properties, backed by a £4.3 billion support package over three years, including transitional relief to protect businesses from large bill increases following revaluation. Later this year we will bring forward a new High Streets Strategy, to help reinvigorate our communities. We have increased and extended the Hospitality Support Fund to £10 million over the next three years so we can continue to help more pubs, help more people into work and find more innovate ways to improve business productivity and sustainability.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what support his Department is providing to pubs in West Dorset.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Since April 2026, every pub has benefited from a 15% cut to their business rates bills, followed by a two year real terms freeze. Around three‑quarters of pubs will see their bills stay the same or fall, saving the average pub around £1,650 this year. A review will be launched into how pubs are valued for business rates, working with industry and valuation experts ahead of the 2029 revaluation.
We have increased and extended the Hospitality Support Fund to £10 million over the next three years so we can continue to help more pubs, help more people into work and find more innovate ways to improve business productivity and sustainability. The temporary Great British Summer Savings scheme reduces VAT from 20 per cent to 5 per cent on selected hospitality, leisure and visitor economy activities between 25 June and 1 September. Later this year we will bring forward a new High Streets Strategy, to help reinvigorate our communities.