Written questions by Lowe.

What estimate she has made of the annual cost of asylum (a) support payments, (b) accommodation and (c) associated services.

The full cost of asylum support is disclosed in the Departments published Annual Report and Accounts and includes support payments, accommodation and all other support services.A link to the text on the 2024-25 Home Office Annual Report and Accounts (ARA) relating to Asylum Support can be found at this link Home Office Annual Report and Accounts 2024 to 2025 (on page 75).

What weekly financial support is provided to asylum seekers, including cash payments and vouchers; and how many people receive this support.

The level of the allowance given to those supported under section 95 and section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 is reviewed each year to ensure it covers an asylum seeker’s “essential living needs”. Full details of the items that are considered essential are set out in Asylum support: What you'll get - GOV.UK.The Home Office publishes data on asylum seekers in receipt of Home Office support, by support type, in table Asy_D09 of the Immigration System Statistics release. The latest data relates to the year ending September 2025. Further details can be found on Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK.

If she will publish a list of all companies that are contracted by the Department to provide asylum related services.

The Home Office holds one contract with Migrant Help for the provision of asylum services. The overall value for the 10-year contract (2019-2029) is £235,000,000. Information on this contract is publicly available: AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Elligibility - Contracts FinderThe AIRE – Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility contract held with Migrant Help includes 24-hour service provisions. Information on this contract is publicly available: AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Elligibility - Contracts FinderThe Home Office holds contracts with the following companies for asylum related services. This information is publicly available:Serco Ltd- AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract NW - Contracts Finder Contract Start date 1 March 2019AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract MEE - Contracts Finder Contract Start date 1 March 2019 Mears Ltd - AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract NEYH - Contracts Finder Contract Start date 1 March 2019AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract Scotland - Contracts Finder Contract Start date 1 March 2019AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract NI - Contracts Finder Contract Start date 1 March 2019 Clearsprings Ready Homes Ltd - AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract Wales - Contracts Finder Contract Start date 1 March 2019AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract South - Contracts Finder Contract Start date 1 March 2019Corporate Travel Management (North) Limited - CCTM22A01 Provision of Bridging Accommodation and Travel Services Contract - Contracts Finder Contract start date 26 February 2023Contract for the Provision of Asylum Accommodation and Travel Services - Contracts Finder Contract start date 23 April 2025Prepaid Financial Services Limited - Support Payment Card - Contracts Finder Contract Start Date 27 February 2021Migrant Help - AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Elligibility - Contracts Finder Contract Start date 1 March 2019Mitie Limited - Provision of Security Services at Home Office Contingency Accommodation - Contracts Finder Contract Start Date 16 September 2022British Refugee Council - Independent Unaccompanied Asylum-seeking Children (UASCs) Support Service - Contracts Finder Contract Start Date 9 February 2022thebigword Group Limited - Language Services - Translation & Interpretation - Contracts Finder Contract Start Date 29 February 2024VF Services (UK) Limited - Contract for the provision of Home Office and Asylum Interviews - Contracts Finder Contract Start Date 6 August 2024

Whether any contracts her Department holds with Migrant Help include 24-hour service provisions.

The Home Office holds one contract with Migrant Help for the provision of asylum services. The overall value for the 10-year contract (2019-2029) is £235,000,000. Information on this contract is publicly available: AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Elligibility - Contracts FinderThe AIRE – Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility contract held with Migrant Help includes 24-hour service provisions. Information on this contract is publicly available: AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Elligibility - Contracts FinderThe Home Office holds contracts with the following companies for asylum related services. This information is publicly available:Serco Ltd- AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract NW - Contracts Finder Contract Start date 1 March 2019AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract MEE - Contracts Finder Contract Start date 1 March 2019 Mears Ltd - AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract NEYH - Contracts Finder Contract Start date 1 March 2019AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract Scotland - Contracts Finder Contract Start date 1 March 2019AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract NI - Contracts Finder Contract Start date 1 March 2019 Clearsprings Ready Homes Ltd - AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract Wales - Contracts Finder Contract Start date 1 March 2019AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract South - Contracts Finder Contract Start date 1 March 2019Corporate Travel Management (North) Limited - CCTM22A01 Provision of Bridging Accommodation and Travel Services Contract - Contracts Finder Contract start date 26 February 2023Contract for the Provision of Asylum Accommodation and Travel Services - Contracts Finder Contract start date 23 April 2025Prepaid Financial Services Limited - Support Payment Card - Contracts Finder Contract Start Date 27 February 2021Migrant Help - AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Elligibility - Contracts Finder Contract Start date 1 March 2019Mitie Limited - Provision of Security Services at Home Office Contingency Accommodation - Contracts Finder Contract Start Date 16 September 2022British Refugee Council - Independent Unaccompanied Asylum-seeking Children (UASCs) Support Service - Contracts Finder Contract Start Date 9 February 2022thebigword Group Limited - Language Services - Translation & Interpretation - Contracts Finder Contract Start Date 29 February 2024VF Services (UK) Limited - Contract for the provision of Home Office and Asylum Interviews - Contracts Finder Contract Start Date 6 August 2024

What contracts her Department currently holds with (i) ClearVoice and (ii) other interpretation providers for asylum and migration services.

The Home Office does not hold any contract with ClearVoice.The Home Office has a contract above threshold with ‘thebigword’ Group Limited.

What is the total annual cost of interpretation and translation services for asylum seekers in each of the last three years.

The information requested is not centrally held and could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

What was the cost to the public purse of translation and interpretation services by her Department for asylum seekers in Great Yarmouth constituency in each of the last five years.

The information requested is not centrally held and could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to employer National Insurance contributions on labour-intensive hospitality businesses.

A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.The Government protected the smallest hospitality businesses from recent changes to employer National Insurance by increasing the Employment Allowance to £10,500.We are determined to support hospitality businesses and help them succeed. The National Licensing Policy Framework for England and Wales set a new strategic direction for licensing authorities to have more regard for growth. We are exploring planning reforms to help pubs and hospitality expand and will appoint a Retail and Hospitality Envoy in the coming weeks to champion the sector. Furthermore, the Hospitality Support Fund has helped pubs in rural areas to diversify, ensuring they can continue in their role as vital community hubs. We have also introduced a new Community Right to Buy, the English Devolution Bill will ban upward only rent reviews, and the Pride in Place programme will provide up to £5bn over 10 years to support our high streets.

What assessment she has made of the potential cumulative impact of business rates, VAT, alcohol duty and employer National Insurance contributions on levels of profitability in the hospitality sector.

The Government has assessed the cumulative impacts of measures announced over recent Budgets on businesses and households. Taken together, these measures raise revenue to support the public finances in a fair way, whilst providing targeted support. The Government recognises that recent policy changes will have combined effects on some businesses. Where changes are made, relevant assessments and impact notes are published to inform stakeholders. The Treasury continues to engage with affected sectors to understand the challenges they face and to ensure the UK remains a competitive place to do business. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and keep our policy approach under review, with future tax decisions taken at fiscal events under the normal process.

Whether she has considered reinstating higher levels of business rates relief for pubs and hospitality venues.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to UIN 101363.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of business rates liabilities on trends in levels of pub closures since 2010.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to UIN 101363.

Whether she has considered introducing a reduced or tiered VAT rate for pubs and restaurants.

The Government recognises the significant contribution made by hospitality businesses to economic growth and social life in the UK. VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Introducing reduced or tiered VAT rates would reduce tax revenue and add complexity to the tax system. HMRC estimate that the cost of a 5 per cent reduced rate for accommodation, hospitality and tourist attractions would be around £13 billion this financial year. If the scope were also to include alcoholic beverages, the cost would be approximately £3 billion greater. This would reduce VAT revenue, which pays for public services, by almost 10% in 2025/26. The Government is aware that some European countries apply reduced VAT rates to hospitality.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to help support pubs in sourcing and promoting British-produced food and drink.

The food strategy recognises the key role that regional and local food systems can play in supporting delivery of the growth, health, sustainability, and food security/ resilience outcomes. Defra wants to create an environment that champions UK food cultures and celebrates British food. The strategy is an opportunity to celebrate the food we make which is uniquely British, combining our heritage and the expertise and innovation of our food businesses. Connecting local communities can be a key vehicle for achieving this outcome and for harnessing a stronger food culture.

Whether her Department has produced on modelling on the potential effect of the April 2026 business rates revaluation on small, independent pubs.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to UIN 101363.

What comparative assessment she has made of the potential impact of the level of VAT on the hospitality sector in (a) the UK and (b) comparable European countries.

The Government recognises the significant contribution made by hospitality businesses to economic growth and social life in the UK. VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Introducing reduced or tiered VAT rates would reduce tax revenue and add complexity to the tax system. HMRC estimate that the cost of a 5 per cent reduced rate for accommodation, hospitality and tourist attractions would be around £13 billion this financial year. If the scope were also to include alcoholic beverages, the cost would be approximately £3 billion greater. This would reduce VAT revenue, which pays for public services, by almost 10% in 2025/26. The Government is aware that some European countries apply reduced VAT rates to hospitality.

What assessment has been made of the role of pubs in supporting local economies and employment, particularly in rural areas.

We recognise the significant contribution hospitality businesses, including pubs, make in driving economic growth and providing jobs, especially in rural and coastal communities. No formal assessment has been made of the role pubs play in supporting local economies and employment, particularly in rural areas. In 2024, the hospitality sector contributed £51.3 billion to the UK economy, representing around 2% of total output and supporting 2 million jobs, or 6.1% of total UK employment.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of alcohol duty levels on the financial sustainability of community pubs.

At Budget 2025 the Chancellor announced that alcohol duty would be kept constant in real terms by uprating it in line with by Retail Price Index (RPI) on 1 February 2026. This decision balances the important contribution of alcohol producers and the hospitality sector to the UK’s culture and economy, with the duty’s role in reducing alcohol harm.An assessment of the impacts of this Budget decision is published within the Tax Impact and Information Note (TIIN) here:  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alcohol-duty-rates-change/alcohol-duty-uprating#summary-of-impactsThis Government is proud to have been able to expand the generosity of Draught Relief, which enables products served on draught below 8.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) to pay less duty. The Chancellor’s draught rate cut at Autumn Budget 2024 applied to approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. This took a penny of duty off a typical strength pint at a cost to the Exchequer of over £85m a year, providing vital support to pubs and other venues, and helping other producers that supply eligible products.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of pub closures on community cohesion.

We recognise that pubs are an important part of the social fabric of the UK, places that are focal points of many communities, where people from different backgrounds can mix and generate a sense of belonging. That is why we are introducing Community Right to Buy so people can protect pubs that mean so much to their communities. We are also taking steps to support the viability of pubs, such as introducing legislation to ban upwards only rent reviews in commercial leases, reforming licensing rules, and committing funding to support rural pubs to diversify their services.

What steps are being taken to help reduce levels of closures of community pubs and high-street hospitality venues.

The Government recognises the vital role community pubs and high-street hospitality venues play in local economies and social life; we also recognise the pressures they face.The Government has permanently lowered business rates multipliers for eligible Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties and have introduced a £4.3 billion support package over the next three years to protect ratepayers from increases following the business rates revaluation. Additionally, through the English Devolution Bill, we have introduced a strong new ‘right to buy’ to help communities safeguard valued community assets, empowering local communities to reclaim and revitalise empty shops, pubs, and community spaces, helping to revamp our high streets and eliminate the blight of vacant premisesWe will continue work closely with the sector, including through the Hospitality Sector Council to improve the productivity and resilience of hospitality businesses by co-creating solutions to the issues impacting business performance.

Whether she has considered raising the employer National Insurance threshold for hospitality businesses.

At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government increased the Employment Allowance for National Insurance contributions (NICs) from £5,000 to £10,500. Furthermore, businesses can claim employer NICs reliefs for employees under-21s and under-25 apprentices on earnings up to £50,270. There are a wide range of factors to take into consideration when introducing or expanding a tax relief. These include how effective the relief would be at achieving the policy intent, how targeted support would be, whether it adds complexity to the tax system, and the cost.