Businesses in England can contact the Valuation Office Agency about their property’s rateable value or contact their billing authority about any reliefs.

Businesses in England can contact the Valuation Office Agency about their property’s rateable value or contact their billing authority about any reliefs.

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Leong on 21 July (HL Deb col 1078), in which scenarios the Secretary of State would consider adopting a business-size definition different to existing definitions.

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Leong on 21 July (HL Deb col 1078), in which scenarios the Secretary of State would consider adopting a business-size definition different to existing definitions.

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Leong on 21 July (HL Deb col 1078), whether businesses will be expected to determine their own size, and that of their business partners.

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Leong on 21 July (HL Deb col 1078), whether businesses will be expected to determine their own size, and that of their business partners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Department is taking to ensure that small businesses, charities and social enterprises are able to participate in the Youth Jobs Grant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Department is taking to ensure that small businesses, charities and social enterprises are able to participate in the Youth Jobs Grant.

Some pubs in England saw significantly higher business rates from April 2026. This followed business rates revaluation and the removal of covid-era relief.

Some pubs in England saw significantly higher business rates from April 2026. This followed business rates revaluation and the removal of covid-era relief.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the UK/EU-Ukraine Defence Innovation Corridor Parliamentary Roundtable held on 23 June 2026, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) procurement speed, (b) technology transfer between the UK and Ukraine and (c) SMEs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the UK/EU-Ukraine Defence Innovation Corridor Parliamentary Roundtable held on 23 June 2026, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) procurement speed, (b) technology transfer between the UK and Ukraine and (c) SMEs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Kyiv Business Centre will be fully operational; and if he will set how UK SMEs will be able to access its services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Kyiv Business Centre will be fully operational; and if he will set how UK SMEs will be able to access its services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the defence technology export mechanism recently approved by the Government of Ukraine on UK defence companies; and what steps he is taking to support UK companies establish co-production arrangements with Ukrainian manufacturers...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the defence technology export mechanism recently approved by the Government of Ukraine on UK defence companies; and what steps he is taking to support UK companies establish co-production arrangements with Ukrainian manufacturers...

No cheering. Can the Minister explain how all these new commitments will be paid for, and whether Parliament will be given the chance to probe the many questions that will arise in the coming days and weeks?

No cheering. Can the Minister explain how all these new commitments will be paid for, and whether Parliament will be given the chance to probe the many questions that will arise in the coming days and weeks?

I thank the noble Baroness for setting out the Government’s plan so clearly, and in doing so enjoying so much support from behind me. This visitor levy is really important; it exists in every G7 country. I am sorry—I do not want to be completely flippant because this is really important. Of course, we expect local authorities, mayors, to take proper decisions about how to fund these things, and to grow their economy.

I thank the noble Baroness for setting out the Government’s plan so clearly, and in doing so enjoying so much support from behind me. This visitor levy is really important; it exists in every G7 country. I am sorry—I do not want to be completely flippant because this is really important. Of course, we expect local authorities, mayors, to take proper decisions about how to fund these things, and to grow their economy.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of introducing a visitor levy on the cost of domestic travel and holidays within the United Kingdom.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of introducing a visitor levy on the cost of domestic travel and holidays within the United Kingdom.

This Government believe in empowering mayors. Mayors will decide whether introducing a levy is the right choice, as is common for local leaders in countries all around the world. Mayors will need to consider the appropriate balance between supporting local economic priorities, including tourism, ensuring a levy is affordable and providing stability and certainty for business.

This Government believe in empowering mayors. Mayors will decide whether introducing a levy is the right choice, as is common for local leaders in countries all around the world. Mayors will need to consider the appropriate balance between supporting local economic priorities, including tourism, ensuring a levy is affordable and providing stability and certainty for business.

My Lords, the Government’s treatment of the hospitality sector over the last two years has been marked by neglect, indifference and deeply damaging policies. This summer, many families would have been looking forward to enjoying their summer holidays, but the Government have planned to introduce a tax on their holidays. This tax will disproportionately harm lower income families in Britain and the smaller hospitality businesses that provide cheaper holidays. That exposes the hollowness of the new Prime Minister’s own stated mission to bring down the cost of living. Does the Minister agree that the new Prime Minister should change course, put small businesses and British families first and abandon the family holiday tax?

My Lords, the Government’s treatment of the hospitality sector over the last two years has been marked by neglect, indifference and deeply damaging policies. This summer, many families would have been looking forward to enjoying their summer holidays, but the Government have planned to introduce a tax on their holidays. This tax will disproportionately harm lower income families in Britain and the smaller hospitality businesses that provide cheaper holidays. That exposes the hollowness of the new Prime Minister’s own stated mission to bring down the cost of living. Does the Minister agree that the new Prime Minister should change course, put small businesses and British families first and abandon the family holiday tax?

The visitor levy was announced on 25 November 2025 and a consultation on the design of the levy powers was launched in the Budget. The consultation has now closed, and the response will be published—perhaps the noble Lord will not be surprised to hear me say this—in due course. We expect that local leaders will be able to introduce the levy before the end of this Parliament. I am afraid I do not accept the wider characterisation from the noble Lord. As he knows, we have done a great deal to support the hospitality industry, including pubs and live music venues, through business rates support and through our Great British Summer Savings scheme, which is now well advanced.

The visitor levy was announced on 25 November 2025 and a consultation on the design of the levy powers was launched in the Budget. The consultation has now closed, and the response will be published—perhaps the noble Lord will not be surprised to hear me say this—in due course. We expect that local leaders will be able to introduce the levy before the end of this Parliament. I am afraid I do not accept the wider characterisation from the noble Lord. As he knows, we have done a great deal to support the hospitality industry, including pubs and live music venues, through business rates support and through our Great British Summer Savings scheme, which is now well advanced.

My Lords, I am a former chair of Core Cities UK, the group of the 10 largest cities outside of London. Core Cities campaigned long and hard for the power to introduce

a discretionary visitor levy to fund the additional costs of tourism-related expenditure, maintaining historic sites, promoting marketing campaigns, and the cost of major events—which in my time as leader of Newcastle City Council the hospitality sector told me was the single biggest thing that brought additional business in through their doors—ultimately reducing the burden on council tax payers of the overall visitor economy. Can my noble friend the Minister indicate whether His Majesty’s Government have plans to press ahead with this financial flexibility for areas in England that wish to introduce it?

My Lords, I am a former chair of Core Cities UK, the group of the 10 largest cities outside of London. Core Cities campaigned long and hard for the power to introduce

a discretionary visitor levy to fund the additional costs of tourism-related expenditure, maintaining historic sites, promoting marketing campaigns, and the cost of major events—which in my time as leader of Newcastle City Council the hospitality sector told me was the single biggest thing that brought additional business in through their doors—ultimately reducing the burden on council tax payers of the overall visitor economy. Can my noble friend the Minister indicate whether His Majesty’s Government have plans to press ahead with this financial flexibility for areas in England that wish to introduce it?

As I have said, the discretion will be with local mayors, and I pay tribute to the campaign of my noble friend and others. Perhaps I can quote one regional mayor:

“I am proud that nearly two million people from all over the world choose to visit Greater Manchester every year. The money they spend contributes about £9 billion annually to our economy”—

As I have said, the discretion will be with local mayors, and I pay tribute to the campaign of my noble friend and others. Perhaps I can quote one regional mayor:

“I am proud that nearly two million people from all over the world choose to visit Greater Manchester every year. The money they spend contributes about £9 billion annually to our economy”—

Oh!

Oh!

I am doing my job—

“supporting over 100,000 jobs. The levy will allow us to invest in the infrastructure these visitors need”.

I agree with this comment by my right honourable friend. If mayors choose to introduce this levy, it will help investment in the tourist economy.

I am doing my job—

“supporting over 100,000 jobs. The levy will allow us to invest in the infrastructure these visitors need”.

I agree with this comment by my right honourable friend. If mayors choose to introduce this levy, it will help investment in the tourist economy.

My Lords, when it comes to visitor levies, surely one size does not fit all. Applying them to small, family-run operators in our struggling coastal towns will inflict further damage on already weak competitor positions. Where is the evidence that applying Manchesterism to places such as Blackpool, Skegness and, indeed, Burnham-on-Sea will not damage growth in these postcodes and drive visitor numbers down?

My Lords, when it comes to visitor levies, surely one size does not fit all. Applying them to small, family-run operators in our struggling coastal towns will inflict further damage on already weak competitor positions. Where is the evidence that applying Manchesterism to places such as Blackpool, Skegness and, indeed, Burnham-on-Sea will not damage growth in these postcodes and drive visitor numbers down?

That is precisely why we are leaving it to local mayors to decide. Of course we will not impose a levy from the centre. I have already said that the consultation has been completed, and we will announce the response in due course. Of course we are not going to impose the same thing everywhere.

That is precisely why we are leaving it to local mayors to decide. Of course we will not impose a levy from the centre. I have already said that the consultation has been completed, and we will announce the response in due course. Of course we are not going to impose the same thing everywhere.