Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the cost of pavement licences on the operating costs of hospitality businesses.

Fees for pavement licenses are set locally by licensing authorities. To ensure pavement licenses are affordable for businesses, government sets national fee caps of £500 for new pavement licences and £350 for renewals.

In October 2025, the government launched a call for evidence seeking views on the recommendations set out in the industry-led licensing taskforce report on licensing policy. The feedback received shaped the development of the National Licensing Policy Framework which was published in November 2025 and that can be found on gov.uk here. The government will continue to work with a wide range of stakeholders to take forward the recommendations made by the Taskforce, including in respect of pavement licences.