Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with representatives of the hospitality industry on job losses in the West Midlands since the Autumn Budget 2024.

The Government recognises the vital role hospitality businesses play in driving employment and supporting local economies including in the West Midlands. We also understand the pressures they face. That’s why our Plan for Small Businesses delivers the most comprehensive support package in a generation, cutting red tape and increasing access to finance.

The Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for RHL properties with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27. The Department for Business and Trade regularly engages with representatives from the hospitality sector, through the Hospitality Sector Council, to co-create solutions to the issues impacting business performance, including jobs and skills. In addition the Hospitality Fund is backing projects that will include addressing skills gaps in the sector and boosting productivity.