Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Andrew Jones, has welcomed measures to boost the hospitality industry. The measures announced by Chancellor and fellow North Yorkshire MP, Rishi Sunak, include halving business rates for the vast majority of retail, hospitality and leisure businesses.
Mr Jones commented:
What a tremendous boost this is for our area. Our local economy largely depends on business and leisure tourism with thousands of jobs underpinned by the industry.
We have started our recovery from the pandemic well with the Convention Centre performing strongly and hotels and guest houses reporting high rates of occupancy. This is good news but we need to consolidate that progress and give the hospitality industry every opportunity to grow.
That is why I support the measures announced in the Budget. Taken with Small Business Rate Relief this represents a cut to business taxes of around £7 billion with over 700,000 businesses being eligible.
The Chancellor’s move will benefit businesses such as pubs, gyms, cinemas, restaurants and hotels. It comes alongside measures to support pubs and brewers with alcohol duty rates frozen and a new lower rate of duty for draught beer and cider.
Andrew continued:
Almost everyone knows someone who works or has worked in the hospitality industry. This demonstrates the critical role the sector plays locally. These changes will put rocket boosters under the industry, safeguard jobs, bring more visitors to our area and boost the footfall upon which our local retailers rely.
