Hair and Beauty Sector: Government Policy

Part of the debate – in Westminster Hall at 4:30 pm on 23 April 2025.

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Photo of Julian Lewis Julian Lewis Chair, Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament 4:30, 23 April 2025

I know it is not the main thrust of my hon. Friend’s argument, but does she share my concern at the detailed exposés at the end of March in the Evening Standard and The Sunday Times about the huge proliferation of barber shops, which could not possibly all be conducting legitimate trade? For example, the Evening Standard talked about 17 barbers in and around a two-mile stretch of Streatham High Road, and about 25 on a similarly sized section of Kingsland Road between Stoke Newington and Haggerston. That is clearly criminal activity on a major scale.