Asked by: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Economic Assessment of Selected House of Lords Gambling Reforms, prepared by NERA Economic Consulting for the Peers for Gambling Reform and published on 26 May.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
We are considering the report by NERA Economic Consulting carefully, along with the large amount of evidence we have received in connection with our Review. We aim to publish a white paper by the end of the year, setting out our conclusions and next steps for the Gambling Act Review.
Asked by: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to strip the Gambling Commission of its power to impose affordability checks on vulnerable consumers.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Gambling Commission received over 13,000 responses to its consultation and call for evidence on Remote Customer Interaction (including on issues to do with affordability) and has published an interim update on its website outlining next steps. It intends to publish a full report this summer.
The government remains in close contact with the Commission as its work progresses and the Commission is sharing key evidence with the Department on affordability and other topics where it could be relevant to our Review of the Gambling Act 2005. We are considering all evidence submitted to our Review, and any proposed changes will be led by that evidence.
Asked by: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to support a national memorial to recognise the work of the emergency services.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
It is not normal practice for central government to fund new memorials.
Many organisations – public and private – are able (subject to the relevant permissions) to propose, fund, develop and deliver memorials marking a variety of incidents and historical moments in a way that they are best-placed to deem appropriate and sensitive.
Many successful memorials are created by a wide-range of authorities and organisations and this allows each memorial to respond sensitively to the particular circumstances that it seeks to commemorate.
Asked by: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what financial support they intend to provide to travelling fairgrounds to assist with the income lost as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Government has introduced a number of support measures to support the tourism and outdoor events sector through COVID-19, which travelling fairground businesses can access. We introduced a substantial, UK-wide cut in VAT for many tourism and hospitality activities, including admission to circuses and fairs, until the end of March.
In response to the current national restrictions, the Chancellor has confirmed how the government will support businesses and individuals during this period - including through the extension of various government-backed loans and the extended furlough and self-employed support schemes.
Further to this, the Additional Restrictions Grant discretionary fund will allow Local Authorities to help businesses more broadly. It supports businesses that are not covered by other grant schemes, such as the Local Restrictions Support Grant, or where additional funding is needed.
From 2 December, as set out in the COVID Winter Plan we will return to a tiered approach to COVID-19 restrictions in England. Funfairs and fairgrounds - which will be permitted to reopen in all three tiers as they were prior to this period of national restrictions - will need to go through the normal process of requesting permission and any relevant licences from the relevant authority and have the relevant health and safety protocols in place, including a Covid-19 risk assessment. Local Authorities are responsible for deciding whether to permit outdoor events in their area. Decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis, with consideration given to both the risks and the mitigations in place.
In the government's Covid-19 Secure guidance for the Visitor Economy, we have provided guidance for Local Authorities on how to assess applications for outdoor events and how Local Authorities should support event organisers to hold outdoor events safely. We will continue to work closely with Local Authorities and the sector to get outdoor events running safely and successfully once they are permitted.
Asked by: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with local authorities about the case for permitting fairs to take place.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Government has introduced a number of support measures to support the tourism and outdoor events sector through COVID-19, which travelling fairground businesses can access. We introduced a substantial, UK-wide cut in VAT for many tourism and hospitality activities, including admission to circuses and fairs, until the end of March.
In response to the current national restrictions, the Chancellor has confirmed how the government will support businesses and individuals during this period - including through the extension of various government-backed loans and the extended furlough and self-employed support schemes.
Further to this, the Additional Restrictions Grant discretionary fund will allow Local Authorities to help businesses more broadly. It supports businesses that are not covered by other grant schemes, such as the Local Restrictions Support Grant, or where additional funding is needed.
From 2 December, as set out in the COVID Winter Plan we will return to a tiered approach to COVID-19 restrictions in England. Funfairs and fairgrounds - which will be permitted to reopen in all three tiers as they were prior to this period of national restrictions - will need to go through the normal process of requesting permission and any relevant licences from the relevant authority and have the relevant health and safety protocols in place, including a Covid-19 risk assessment. Local Authorities are responsible for deciding whether to permit outdoor events in their area. Decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis, with consideration given to both the risks and the mitigations in place.
In the government's Covid-19 Secure guidance for the Visitor Economy, we have provided guidance for Local Authorities on how to assess applications for outdoor events and how Local Authorities should support event organisers to hold outdoor events safely. We will continue to work closely with Local Authorities and the sector to get outdoor events running safely and successfully once they are permitted.
Asked by: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they have issued to local authorities to ensure a consistent approach in allowing travelling fairgrounds to safely re-open.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Government has introduced a number of support measures to support the tourism and outdoor events sector through COVID-19, which travelling fairground businesses can access. We introduced a substantial, UK-wide cut in VAT for many tourism and hospitality activities, including admission to circuses and fairs, until the end of March.
In response to the current national restrictions, the Chancellor has confirmed how the government will support businesses and individuals during this period - including through the extension of various government-backed loans and the extended furlough and self-employed support schemes.
Further to this, the Additional Restrictions Grant discretionary fund will allow Local Authorities to help businesses more broadly. It supports businesses that are not covered by other grant schemes, such as the Local Restrictions Support Grant, or where additional funding is needed.
From 2 December, as set out in the COVID Winter Plan we will return to a tiered approach to COVID-19 restrictions in England. Funfairs and fairgrounds - which will be permitted to reopen in all three tiers as they were prior to this period of national restrictions - will need to go through the normal process of requesting permission and any relevant licences from the relevant authority and have the relevant health and safety protocols in place, including a Covid-19 risk assessment. Local Authorities are responsible for deciding whether to permit outdoor events in their area. Decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis, with consideration given to both the risks and the mitigations in place.
In the government's Covid-19 Secure guidance for the Visitor Economy, we have provided guidance for Local Authorities on how to assess applications for outdoor events and how Local Authorities should support event organisers to hold outdoor events safely. We will continue to work closely with Local Authorities and the sector to get outdoor events running safely and successfully once they are permitted.
Asked by: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support charities, such as Coeliac UK, who are providing information to patients with dietary conditions; and what assessment they have made of the impact of the loss of income and the increase in demand for such charities’ services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
I recognise that many charities such as Coeliac UK are experiencing some particular pressures as a result of loss of income as a result of Covid 19, while demand for their services is unchanged or even increasing. The voluntary sector is playing a vital role in providing services for vulnerable people, and will continue to be an important vehicle for the UK’s Covid-19 response.
I thank Coeliac UK for continuing to work closely with gluten free food industry contacts to understand how coronavirus might affect the production and supply of gluten free food to make sure that the safety of people with coeliac disease is maintained.
In response to the pressures faced by charities and voluntary organisations a package of grant funds worth £750 million was announced on 8 April to support charities at risk of financial hardship. This is a substantial package of targeted support for charities on the frontline of responding to Coronavirus. £360 million is coming directly from government departments, and £370 million will be provided for smaller charities, including through a grant to the National Lottery Community Fund. More information on this second tranche of funding More details will be released in the coming days via the National Lottery Community Fund. The aim is to get funding to those in greatest need as soon as possible.
Charities also have access to cross-cutting support already announced including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which enables them to furlough staff, and a three-month VAT deferral.