On Monday 19 July, the Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets Paul Scully MP gave a written statement to the House of Commons on the Government's new Hospitality Strategy.

The Minister updated MPs on the Government's plans to support the hospitality sector in recovering from the covid-19 pandemic and the Government's long-term vision for the sector. These plans were set out in the Government's strategy paper for the sector, published on Friday 16 July, entitled 'Hospitality strategy: reopening, recovery, resilience'.

The Statement said:

"On Friday, I published a Hospitality Strategy to support this vital sector.

"The hospitality sector contributes significantly to the economy and plays a leading role in supporting local communities, high streets and city centres across the country. However, it has been one of the hardest sectors hit by the pandemic.

"The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a sector that exists to bring people together was always going to be significant. That is why the Government’s £352 billion package of support included specific and targeted help for hospitality businesses. Despite this, over the course of the pandemic, hospitality businesses have largely been operating at a loss.

"To support the sector’s bounce back, we have developed a forward-looking strategy that sets out the Government's long-term vision to help businesses on their road to recovery and beyond. This will sit alongside and support other government strategies and plans, including the Build Back Better High Streets Strategy and Tourism Recovery Plan.

"We have worked closely with sector partners and businesses to develop an ambitious vision for the sector which reflects the aims of returning the sector to its pre-pandemic health, supporting wider economic recovery and creating thousands of resilient and dynamic businesses for years to come.

"The strategy recognises the vital role that hospitality businesses will play in the UK’s economic recovery, to society and the levelling up agenda."

Read the strategy:  Hospitality Strategy: Reopening, Recovery, Resilience (BEIS, July 2021)