Asked by: Paul Kohler (Liberal Democrat - Wimbledon)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of formally recognising (a) nightclubs and (b) music venues as cultural, heritage and community assets.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is working closely with the live music industry to support the music and nightclub sectors.
The Government response to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee's report on grassroots music venues sets out our commitment to working with the sector to support the sustainability of the entire music ecosystem. Cultural venues, like nightclubs and music venues, provide enjoyment to many thousands of people as the opportunity to hear live music up close is an essential part of our cultural life.
We are continuing to support Arts Council England’s (ACE’s) successful Supporting Grassroots Music Fund by providing £2.5 million funding in 2025-26, which provides grants to grassroots music organisations, including those that host or promote electronic music. ACE continues to engage with industry through targeted webinars and events to promote the Fund to the club sector and encourage applications.
The government recognises the role of night time economy businesses in supporting resilient high streets, and we are focused on our five-point plan to breathe life back into Britain’s high streets, to ensure they are great places for businesses, and economic growth across the UK.
To deliver the manifesto pledge to protect the high street, from 2026-27, the government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values (RV) less than £500,000. To provide further support, the government has extended RHL relief at 40% for 2025-26.
Asked by: Paul Kohler (Liberal Democrat - Wimbledon)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the electronic music and nightclub sector on the night-time culture economy.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is working closely with the live music industry to support the music and nightclub sectors.
The Government response to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee's report on grassroots music venues sets out our commitment to working with the sector to support the sustainability of the entire music ecosystem. Cultural venues, like nightclubs and music venues, provide enjoyment to many thousands of people as the opportunity to hear live music up close is an essential part of our cultural life.
We are continuing to support Arts Council England’s (ACE’s) successful Supporting Grassroots Music Fund by providing £2.5 million funding in 2025-26, which provides grants to grassroots music organisations, including those that host or promote electronic music. ACE continues to engage with industry through targeted webinars and events to promote the Fund to the club sector and encourage applications.
The government recognises the role of night time economy businesses in supporting resilient high streets, and we are focused on our five-point plan to breathe life back into Britain’s high streets, to ensure they are great places for businesses, and economic growth across the UK.
To deliver the manifesto pledge to protect the high street, from 2026-27, the government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values (RV) less than £500,000. To provide further support, the government has extended RHL relief at 40% for 2025-26.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help reduce the number of nightclub closures.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
We recognise the important role night-time economy business plays in supporting local economies and communities. Healthy night-time economy businesses not only support our creative industries, including musicians, DJs and performance artists, but also support tourism and bolster day economy businesses.
The Government is creating a fairer business rate system, reducing alcohol duty on qualifying draught products and transforming the apprenticeship levy to support business and boost opportunities. All of these measures have been consistently demanded by the sector.
This work will be supported by the publication of The Small Business Strategy Command Paper next year.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the number of nightclub closures in the UK since 2020.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government recognises the vital role night-time economy business plays in supporting local economies and our communities. Healthy night-time economy businesses play a key role in supporting our creative industries, including musicians, DJs and performance artists, as well as supporting tourism and strengthening day economy businesses.
The government is creating a fairer business rate system and has extended RHL relief at 40% for 2025-26. Beyond this, the government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties from 2026-27. This reform, on which a Discussion Paper was published at Autumn Budget 2024, will provide certainty for businesses regarding their bills. The government is also reducing alcohol duty on qualifying draught products and transforming the apprenticeship levy to support businesses including in the nighttime economy.
Following the Autumn Budget, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has confirmed it will continue to support Arts Council England’s (ACE’s) successful Supporting Grassroots Music Fund which provides grants to grassroots music organisations - including those that host or promote electronic music – such as venues, rehearsal and recording studios, promoters and festivals. ACE continues to engage with industry through targeted webinars and events to promote the Fund to the club sector and encourage applications.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what plans his Department has to help reduce the rate of nightclub closures.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
We recognise the important role night-time economy business plays in supporting local economies and communities. Healthy night-time economy businesses not only support our creative industries, including musicians, DJs and performance artists, but also support tourism and bolster day economy businesses.
This Government is focused on its five-point plan to breathe life back into Britain’s high streets. This work will ensure that our high streets are great places for our businesses, supporting economic growth across the UK.
To deliver the manifesto pledge to protect the high street, from 2026-27, the government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values (RV) less than £500,000.
Asked by: Sarah Coombes (Labour - West Bromwich)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help support people who work in the night time economy.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
We recognise the important role that the night-time economy plays in supporting local communities. Healthy night-time economy businesses not only support our creative industries, including musicians, DJs and performance artists, but also support tourism and bolster day economy businesses.
In her Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced an increase to the National Living Wage in line with the Low Pay Commission recommendation to £12.21 per hour, alongside a minimum wage for 18-20 year olds of £10.00 per hour, with a view to eventually creating a single adult wage rate. This will benefit over 3.3 million workers around the UK, including those employed in the night-time economy.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether (a) officials, (b) Ministers and (c) special advisers in his Department have (a) met and (b) corresponded with the Mayor of London's Night Czar on the issue of London's night-time economy since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
Since the General Election, officials, special advisors, or Ministers, in their ministerial roles have not specifically met or corresponded with the Mayor of London's Night Czar Amy Lame, before she formally left her post on 31 October. We do however have regular contact with the Mayor of London and his staff, as we do with other Mayors across England.
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is her policy to create a standalone criminal offence for drink spiking; and what steps she is taking to help tackle drink spiking.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Spiking is an abhorrent crime and illegal in any form, whether through vape, food, drink or needle. The Government’s manifesto and the King’s Speech committed to strengthening spiking legislation to help the police better respond to this crime. We are currently working across Government to consider the best way to achieve that.
In addition, the Home Office is currently supporting a range of work to tackle spiking, including specific training for people working in the night-time economy, testing the efficacy of commercial drug test kits and supporting police intensification weeks to increase understanding and awareness of this crime.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether (a) officials, (b) Ministers and (c) special advisers in her Department have (a) met and (b) corresponded with the Mayor of London's Night Czar on the issue of London's night-time economy since the general election.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
Since the General Election, officials, special advisors, or Ministers, in their Ministerial roles, have not as yet met or corresponded with the Mayor of London’s Night Czar, Amy Lamé.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of banning smoking and vaping outside pubs, restaurants and nightclubs on the (a) night-time economy and (b) viability of local high streets.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne
The Government will soon introduce the Tobacco and Vapes Bill into Parliament, which stands to be the most significant public health intervention in a generation, and will put us on track to a smoke-free United Kingdom.
The Government supports measures that will create a smoke-free environment, helping to reduce 80,000 preventable deaths, reduce the burden on the National Health Service, and reduce the burden on the taxpayer. Any proposed extension of smoke-free legislation is subject to the approval of Parliament, as well as a full public consultation and further engagement with relevant organisations.
An impact assessment will be published on the new bill after it has been introduced, and further impact assessments will be published on new regulations when they are laid in Parliament. More details will be set out soon.