Peter Aldous highlights role of fish and chip shops in the revival of the domestic fishing industry, but they face an ongoing triple whammy of high energy costs, high fish prices and the high cost of cooking oil. He calls on the Government to work proactively with the sector to agree a strategy to ensure the survival and subsequent flourishing of fish and chip shops.
Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con)
Fish and chip shops have been part of the fabric of British life for generations and should be the cornerstone of a revived domestic fishing industry. However, shops in the Lowestoft and Waveney area continue to face an ongoing triple whammy of high energy costs, high fish prices and the high cost of cooking oil. Will my right hon. Friend work proactively with the sector to agree a strategy that ensures the survival and subsequent flourishing of fish and chip shops?
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Kemi Badenoch)
My hon. Friend is a doughty champion for his local fish and chip shops. We recognise the importance of fish and chip shops to local communities and the challenges they face. We have introduced a range of support measures to address the specific issues he raises, including changes to business rates that, across the country, are worth a total of £13.6 billion in lower bills. We are also supporting non-domestic energy customers through the energy bill relief scheme, and we recently introduced the energy bills discount scheme, which runs until March 2024. We will keep working closely with the sector as part of the Hospitality Sector Council to improve the resilience of businesses, including the fish and chip shops in Lowestoft.