Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business 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 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 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 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 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 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.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support seasonal hospitality businesses in rural constituencies such as 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 and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of access to finance for solar startups.
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)
The Government recognises that access to finance is vital for all UK start-ups, including those in the solar energy sector. Our Small Business Plan sets out measures to improve the finance landscape for SMEs, including a £4 billion finance boost to increase access to finance for entrepreneurs.
For example, the Start Up Loans programme, delivered by the British Business Bank, offers loans between £500 and £25,000 for businesses that have been trading for up to 60 months. The Growth Guarantee Scheme helps smaller businesses access finance of up to £2 million per business group for growth, investment and working capital.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support businesses 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)
This government recognises that micro and small businesses are the backbone of our economy in West Dorset and across the UK. Our Small Business Plan sets out over 200 targeted actions to support businesses to start and grow.
We recognise the challenges small businesses face, including financing their expansion plans. Through the British Business Bank and its programmes, we are helping smaller businesses to access finance, invest and grow.
All businesses can access support through the Business Growth Service via business.gov.uk and local Growth Hubs like Business Growth Dorset, which provide tailored advice, training and signposting.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of the challenges facing rural micro businesses 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)
This government recognises that micro and small businesses are the backbone of our economy in West Dorset and across the UK. Our Small Business Plan sets out over 200 targeted actions to support businesses to start and grow.
We recognise the challenges facing rural firms, including financing their expansion plans. Through the British Business Bank and its programmes, we are helping smaller businesses to access finance, invest and grow.
Micro businesses can access support through the Business Growth Service via business.gov.uk and local Growth Hubs like Business Growth Dorset, which provide tailored advice, training and signposting.