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 hospitality businesses with the cost of hiring additional staff.

The Government recognises the pressures facing the hospitality sector and that’s why we have introduced targeted support measures to help ease these pressures.

We have protected the smallest businesses and charities from the impact of the increase to employer NICs by more than doubling the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. That means more than half of businesses with NICs liabilities have either gained or have seen no change this tax year.

Businesses are also able to claim employer NICs reliefs including those for under-21s and under-25 apprentices. Employers do not pay employer NICs on earnings up to £50,270 for employees under 21, or for apprentices under the age of 25.