To ask the Minister for the Economy what financial support he intends to provide to hospitality businesses who are struggling with increased running costs.

My department is taking steps to support businesses facing high energy costs through delivery of the Executive’s ‘Path to Net Zero Energy’ Strategy. I also intend to work with Executive colleagues to consider the High Street Task Force recommendations to take this agenda forward.

The level of VAT is also an issue for hospitality businesses and the Department of Finance has repeatedly raised with the Treasury the negative impacts on hospitality of high levels of VAT.