Countering Russian influence in the UK
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UK has applied sanctions and changed rules around visas and corporate transparency to counter Russian influence.

There will be a debate in Westminster Hall on Tuesday 22nd October on support for pubs and the hospitality sector.
Support for pubs and the hospitality sector (252 KB , PDF)
The hospitality industry primarily refers to food and accommodation service industries. This means restaurants, cafes, pubs, bars, catering, hotels, campsites and other accommodation.
In 2023 the economic output of the hospitality sector (food & accommodation services) in the UK was £62.5 billion. This corresponded to around 2.8% of total UK economic output. The relative importance of hospitality to the economic output of each country and region is similar: hospitality makes up 3-4% of the total economic output for each UK country and region.
There were 2.8 million jobs in the hospitality industry in the UK in the three months to June 2024, representing 7.5% of all UK jobs. The hospitality sector was the sixth largest employer, based on the main industry sectors.
The hospitality industry has higher proportions of younger workers, foreign-born workers, part-time workers and workers from minority ethnic backgrounds compared to other sectors. Median hourly pay is lower in hospitality compared to other sectors.
According to the Office for National Statistics’ Business Insights and Conditions survey, energy prices, falling demand for goods and services, and taxation were the main challenges hospitality businesses expected to face in October 2024. Businesses also report being concerned about the cost of materials and labour.
Research by trade body UK Hospitality found that, in the year to May 2023, their members’ energy bills had risen on average by 80%.
At its peak in October 2022, annual inflation was 9.6%. Inflation on food and non-alcoholic beverages peaked at 19.2% in March 2023. As of September 2024, annual inflation was 2.6%, and inflation on food and non-alcoholic beverages was 1.8%.
Despite inflation coming down compared to 2022 levels, consumers are still cutting back on discretionary spending, which could impact demand for hospitality services.
The hospitality sector has always had a higher vacancy rate than the economy overall. In the three months to September 2024, there were 3.6 vacancies per 100 workers in the sector. The average across all industries is 2.6 vacancies per 100 workers.
In April 2024, the National Minimum Wage had its largest ever increase, from £10.42 an hour to £11.44 an hourfor employees aged 21 and older.
Business rates are devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
In 2020/21, a discount of £5,000 was available on the rates bills of all pubs in England with a rateable value of under £100,000. The Welsh government announced an identical scheme on 17 March 2020. No equivalent scheme operated in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Since 2020/21, the UK government has also operated a business rates relief scheme for properties in the retail, hospitality and leisure sector in England. Similar schemes were operated in Scotland and Wales.
In 2023, the government introduced a ‘draught relief‘ with the specific aim of supporting pubs. The ‘draught relief’ reduces alcohol duty by 9.2% on beers and ciders, and by 23% on spirits, wines, and other fermented products. This relief is only available to such drinks if they are sold in a pub or other hospitality venue.
Ahead of the budget on 30 October, UK Hospitality has called on the government to make permanent new lower business rates for hospitality businesses. It has also asked the government to reintroduce VAT relief and reform the Apprenticeship Levy.
National Insurance fears spark business backlash
Michael Race
BBC, 15 October 2024
Pubs face double whammy of tax rises, warns industry
Sian Bradley
The Times, 23 September 2024
Fifty pubs a month shut in first half of year in England and Wales, figures show
Jack Simpson
The Guardian, 23 September 2024
Level of VAT paid by pubs branded ‘extraordinarily demoralising’
Rebecca Weller
Morning Advertiser, 20 September 2024
Small brewers need help to craft their way to survival
Tom Saunders
The Times, 18 March 2024
Question for Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public Houses
Question for the Department for Business and Trade: Public Houses: Government Assistance
Hospitality Sector: Fiscal Support
HC Deb 31 January 2024, c 310WH–326WH
Tourism: statistics and policy
House of Commons Library, 7 November 2023
VAT on tourism and hospitality services
House of Commons Library, 12 February 2024
Hospitality industry and Covid-19
House of Commons Library, 12 May 2022
Support for pubs and the hospitality sector (252 KB , PDF)
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UK has applied sanctions and changed rules around visas and corporate transparency to counter Russian influence.
GDP measures the size of the economy. Find the latest GDP data for the UK and updated forecasts for GDP growth.
Manufacturing is one of the production industries. Find the latest data on the activity of the UK manufacturing sector.