Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade of 1 July 2025 in the debate on Hospitality Sector, Official Report, column 81WH, if he will publish reports produced by the licencing taskforce.

The taskforce was co-chaired by Nick Mackenzie, Chair of the British Beer & Pub Association and CEO of Greene King, one of the UK’s leading pub retailers and brewers, and I as Minister for Services, Small Business and Exports. Other members include industry representatives and experts, police and local authority representatives. It concluded on 23 March 2025 and provided Government with ten key licensing recommendations to consider.

Government is currently in the process of reviewing these recommendations and will respond in due course.