Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions officials in his Department have had with representatives of the hospitality and retail sectors on outstanding rent debt.

The Department regularly engages at both Ministerial and official level with businesses and representative organisations from the hospitality and retail sectors on a range of issues affecting these sectors including commercial rent debt.

Following a Call for Evidence launched in April and ongoing engagement with representatives of the hospitality and retail sectors on commercial rent debt, the Government will introduce legislation shortly, to support landlords and tenants resolve disputes relating to rent owed as a result of premises having been closed or having had business restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic.