Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to support night time industries.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Government continues to support night time industries and the wider hospitality sector.
The Autumn Statement 2022 announced a package of changes to business rates worth £13.6bn over the next 5 years in lower bills. This includes a freeze to the multiplier, scrapping the downward revaluation cap and extending and increasing the generosity of the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) Relief from 50% to 75% in 2023-24, up to £110,000 per business.
This is in addition to the Energy Bills Relief Scheme (EBRS), which discounts businesses’ energy bills until 31 March 2023; the increased Employment Allowance of £5,000, which takes the smallest 40% of businesses out of paying any National Insurance at all; and setting the Annual Investment Allowance at £1 million permanently.
This is a comprehensive package of support which will help protect businesses such as pubs, cafes, and nightclubs.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made a recent assessment of the reasons for trends in the level of nightclub closures; and whether he has had recent discussions with the (a) Night Time Industries Association and (b) other organisations on the potential impact of trends in the level of nightclub closures on (i) the night time economy, (ii) rates of (A) anti-social behaviour and (B) other crimes and (iii) the growth of unregulated alternative venues.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government recognises the importance of nightclubs and other hospitality businesses to the night-time economy. BEIS Ministers and officials meet regularly with the NTIA and UK Hospitality to discuss the challenges facing night time economy businesses, including high energy and cost of living pressures.
The Energy Bill Relief Scheme ensures that businesses are protected from excessively high energy bills over the winter period, and my Rt hon Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer recently announced in his Autumn Statement a range of measures to support firms with business rates worth £13.6 billion over the next 5 years, including increased and extended Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) relief.
My Rt hon Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer recently announced in his Autumn Statement a range of measures to support firms with business rates worth £13.6 billion over the next 5 years, including increased and extended Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) relief.
The Home Office provided the police, local authorities and other local agencies with a range of flexible tools and powers that they can use to respond quickly and effectively to ASB through the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to tackle incidents of drink spiking in night clubs.
Answered by Sarah Dines
The government and law enforcement have been engaging with the industry on this issue since last autumn. Steps taken to tackle spiking include:
A full summary of the work carried out on spiking will be included in the statutory report due to be published 28 April 2023.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of hospitality venues serving alcohol on a high street on trends in the level of safety on those streets.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is committed to reducing alcohol-related crime. We are focused on establishing effective partnerships between the police, local authorities, local partnership schemes and businesses to take effective action against alcohol-related crime and harms in the night time economy.
Consideration of the possible impact on local levels of crime of a high density of shops selling alcohol is a matter for local licensing authorities. Under section 76 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, the police and councils have the power to issue a closure notice if there are grounds to believe that the use of a particular premises has resulted or is likely to result in nuisance to members of the public or disorder near the premises.
The Licensing Act includes several powers that a Local Authority may use to manage the night time economy. For example, a licensing authority may complete a cumulative impact assessment to help it to limit licences granted in areas where there is evidence to show that the number or density of licensed premises in the area may be contributing to problems that are undermining licensing objectives.
There is also the option to consult on introducing a late night levy - this is an optional power used at the discretion of the local authority, to collect a financial contribution from businesses that profit from selling alcohol late at night, with the funds raised to be used for late night policing and other costs associated with the night time economy.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the level of demand placed on police forces created by city centres with a high volume of night time economy venues.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is committed to reducing alcohol-related crime. We are focused on establishing effective partnerships between the police, local authorities, local partnership schemes and businesses to take effective action against alcohol-related crime and harms in the night time economy.
Consideration of the possible impact on local levels of crime of a high density of shops selling alcohol is a matter for local licensing authorities. Under section 76 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, the police and councils have the power to issue a closure notice if there are grounds to believe that the use of a particular premises has resulted or is likely to result in nuisance to members of the public or disorder near the premises.
The Licensing Act includes several powers that a Local Authority may use to manage the night time economy. For example, a licensing authority may complete a cumulative impact assessment to help it to limit licences granted in areas where there is evidence to show that the number or density of licensed premises in the area may be contributing to problems that are undermining licensing objectives.
There is also the option to consult on introducing a late night levy - this is an optional power used at the discretion of the local authority, to collect a financial contribution from businesses that profit from selling alcohol late at night, with the funds raised to be used for late night policing and other costs associated with the night time economy.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help ensure that areas with a significant night time economy have adequate levels of policing.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is committed to reducing alcohol-related crime. We are focused on establishing effective partnerships between the police, local authorities, local partnership schemes and businesses to take effective action against alcohol-related crime and harms in the night time economy.
Consideration of the possible impact on local levels of crime of a high density of shops selling alcohol is a matter for local licensing authorities. Under section 76 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, the police and councils have the power to issue a closure notice if there are grounds to believe that the use of a particular premises has resulted or is likely to result in nuisance to members of the public or disorder near the premises.
The Licensing Act includes several powers that a Local Authority may use to manage the night time economy. For example, a licensing authority may complete a cumulative impact assessment to help it to limit licences granted in areas where there is evidence to show that the number or density of licensed premises in the area may be contributing to problems that are undermining licensing objectives.
There is also the option to consult on introducing a late night levy - this is an optional power used at the discretion of the local authority, to collect a financial contribution from businesses that profit from selling alcohol late at night, with the funds raised to be used for late night policing and other costs associated with the night time economy.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent steps the Government has taken to support the night-time economy.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
In the past, the Government has taken unprecedented action to support the hospitality industry. Autumn Statement delivers further on our support for the sector.
The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) Relief has been extended and increased from 50% to 75% in 2023-24 – a relief of up to £110k per business. This means around 230,000 properties in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors will receive a tax cut worth almost £2.1 billion in 2023-24.
We are freezing the business rates multiplier in 2023-24 instead of increasing in line with inflation. Businesses in the hospitality and retail sectors will also benefit from the Energy Price Guarantee until April 2023. In addition, the April increase to the Employment Allowance from £4,000 to £5,000, means that any businesses with employer NICs bills of £100,000 or less in the previous tax year can claim up to £5,000 off their NICs bill.
All of which means that the Government is exceeding stakeholder expectations for further support for retail and hospitality and to protect businesses such as pubs, cafes, and nightclubs.
Asked by: Alison McGovern (Labour - Wirral South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of night-time public transport on the night-time economy.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
We have been clear through the National Bus Strategy that partnerships and franchising arrangements must deliver more comprehensive services, including those which are socially or economically necessary. As part of the Strategy the Government plans to issue new guidance on ‘socially necessary’ services, expanding the category to include ‘economically necessary’ services such as those supporting the night time economy.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional support her Department recommends local police forces provide to ensure that women can access high quality support during the night time economy in their locality.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
This Government is committed to protecting all victims of violence against women and girls (VAWG) and is working in partnership with police forces across England and Wales to keep victims safe.
Since October 2021, £30 million has been invested for projects with a focus on protecting women in their communities through Round Three of the Safer Streets Fund and the pilot Safety of Women at Night Fund.
An additional £50 million for 111 projects has been invested through Round Four of the Safer Streets Fund, which has a focus on tackling violence against women and girls in public places, as well as neighbourhood crime and anti-social behaviour.
To support delivery of our commitments set out in the Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, we have supported the introduction of a full-time National Policing Lead for Violence Against Women and Girls, DCC Maggie Blyth, who has been in post since November 2021 and has been working closely with Government to coordinate the policing response to VAWG crimes.
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has beyond sobriety tagging to tackle alcohol consumption in the context of the link between alcohol consumption and violent crime.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The Government is committed to reducing alcohol-related crime and ensuring that swift action is taken to tackle alcohol-related offending. We have given powers to relevant authorities to tackle alcohol-related crime and harms. For example, we have placed cumulative impact policies on a statutory footing and have given new powers to immigration officers to tackle illegal working in licensed premises.
The Government recognises that alcohol continues to be one of the six main drivers of crime in the United Kingdom. We have focused on improving local intelligence, establishing effective partnerships and equipping the police and local authorities with the right powers to take effective action against alcohol related-crime and harms in the night-time economy. The Government continues to work closely with partners to tackle alcohol related crime.