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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of local licensing fees for outdoor seating on small hospitality businesses.

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 made caps to the fees charged for pavement licences permanent. These caps were designed to allow administration costs borne by local authorities to be recovered whilst ensuring the cost to business is proportionate. They also grant local authorities discretion to align costs to local needs.

The Government supports a thriving hospitality sector. In April, we announced the formation of a licensing policy taskforce which aims to create a more enabling and agile approach to licensing with a greater focus on growth. The Government will consider the recommendations of the taskforce and announce any decisions in due course.