Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department made during the development of the autumn budget 2025 on the potential impact of the Budget on the hospitality sector in (a) Yeovil constituency and (b) the South West.

The hospitality sector is the heartbeat of our communities, and the Government recognises the contribution it makes to our culture and the UK exchequer.

We are determined to support hospitality businesses and help them succeed. At Budget, the Chancellor announced the first National Licensing Policy Framework which sets a new strategic direction for licensing authorities to have more regard for growth when reviewing licensing applications and decisions in England and Wales. We are exploring planning reforms to help pubs and hospitality expand and will appoint a Retail and Hospitality Envoy shortly.

The new Community Right to Buy will help communities safeguard valued community assets – such as pubs – and the English Devolution Bill will ban upward only rent reviews.