Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many representatives from local councils are members of the (1) Cultural Renewal Taskforce, and (2) Cultural Recovery Board.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Shadow Minister (Education)
The Cultural Renewal Taskforce (CRT) and its Working Groups were set up to develop guidance for safe reopening of DCMS sectors following the latest coronavirus guidelines. The Culture Recovery Board was created to oversee the delivery of the Culture Recovery Fund.
The membership of the Cultural Renewal Taskforce and its Working Groups and the membership of the Culture Recovery Board can be found on the government’s website. The Local Government Association is a member of several of the CRT Working Groups.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when is the earliest date that applicants can expect to receive funding from the SME Brexit Support Fund.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The earliest date by which applicants can expect to receive funding from the SME Brexit Support Fund, following a successful application, is within 30 days of the valid claim for reimbursement being accepted.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is provision for SME Brexit Support Fund grants to be applied retroactively to cover adjustments put in place by businesses before the funding became available.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Applicants can only seek support for eligible expenditure on or after 11 February 2021, the date the scheme was announced.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits to businesses of receiving funding from the SME Brexit Support Fund (1) at any time, and (2) after the impending import process changes.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The Government has provided extensive guidance to businesses on VAT, excise, and customs processes to support them in their readiness for the UK leaving the EU. This guidance includes videos, webinars and step-by-step guides.
The announcement of the SME Brexit Support Fund followed extensive engagement with individual businesses, leading business organisations and trade associations from across the UK. Grants have been designed to cover a significant portion of the costs faced for basic customs training courses or professional advice on customs, rules of origin and the VAT aspects of imports and exports.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they had with the EU during their negotiations relating to the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement about visa arrangements for (1) UK performing artists touring the EU, and (2) performing artists from the EU touring the UK.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Shadow Minister (Education)
I refer the Noble Baroness to the Secretary of State’s answer to Written Question 135862 on 14th January.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the 100 per cent business rates holiday for the next 12 months to “all leisure business in England”, announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17 March, will cover the offices of such businesses, including theatre production offices and places used for content production such as studios; and what guidance they have provided to local authorities about that business rates holiday.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The Government has provided enhanced support to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors through business rates relief given the direct and acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those sectors. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government published updated guidance on 25 March.
A range of further measures to support all businesses, including those not eligible for the business rates holiday, such as creative industry businesses, has also been made available. For example, the Government has launched the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help firms continue to keep people in employment and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme offering loans of up to £5 million for SMEs through the British Business Bank, backed by an 80% Government guarantee, and is deferring VAT payments for this quarter.
The Government will consider any further financial assistance necessary to help businesses get through this period.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide further tools to local government to support small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
Government is providing a package of support for businesses and workers, in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19. This includes £12.3bn for local authorities to deliver to SMEs under the Small Business Grants Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund. On 1 May, the Business Secretary announced a further up to £617 million available to local authorities to support small businesses previously outside the scope of the business grant funding. Government is working closely with all local authorities to help them make payments to businesses as quickly and effectively as possible, whilst safeguarding public funds. As part of this we have provided detailed guidance and FAQs, regular briefings and one-to-one support from ministers and officials. Government will also provide additional funding to local authorities to meet the administrative costs of delivering this policy. Alongside support through local authorities, the Chancellor pledged an additional £10 million to increase Growth Hub capacity and provide high-quality business advice and guidance across all 38 Growth Hubs.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many creative industries businesses have applied for the (1) Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans scheme, (2) the Small Business Grants Fund, and (3) the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund since their introduction.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) opened for applications on 23 March. As of 21 April, over £2.8 billion worth of loans have been issued to over 16,600 businesses. Lenders have received a total of over 36,000 applications.
At this time we cannot provide a breakdown of CBILS funding by sector, as we have given lenders a temporary dispensation from uploading their data to the British Business Bank’s system in order to let them focus on issuing new loans. This is a pragmatic step that reflects the urgency of getting loans issued. We are working with the British Business Bank, HM Treasury and the lenders on providing transparent and regular data publication going forward.
Government has also made £12.3 billion available to businesses under the Small Business Grants Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund. On 1 May, the Business Secretary made up to £617 million available to local authorities to support small businesses previously outside the scope of the business grant funding. Local authorities are contacting businesses directly to deliver these grants. See this link for further (attached) information: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/top-up-to-local-business-grant-funds-scheme
As of 3 May, over 697,000 business premises have received grants across the two schemes, totalling £8.6 billion. We do not receive management information from local authorities broken down by sector. We have, however, published, a full breakdown of grant funding allocated to and distributed by each local authority (attached) here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-grant-funding-local-authority-payments-to-small-and-medium-businesses.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they intend to support creative industries businesses whose premises have a rateable value higher than £51,000.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The Government has provided enhanced support to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors through business rates relief given the direct and acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those sectors. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government published updated guidance on 25 March.
A range of further measures to support all businesses, including those not eligible for the business rates holiday, such as creative industry businesses, has also been made available. For example, the Government has launched the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help firms continue to keep people in employment and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme offering loans of up to £5 million for SMEs through the British Business Bank, backed by an 80% Government guarantee, and is deferring VAT payments for this quarter.
The Government will consider any further financial assistance necessary to help businesses get through this period.
Asked by: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to use current cultural funding streams to support the cultural sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Shadow Minister (Education)
The Government has worked with various Arms Length Bodies to create tailored funding packages, made up of existing funding, to support the cultural sector at this time.
Arts Council England has announced a £160m emergency response package to complement the financial measures already announced by the Government and support the resilience of this vital sector. This funding package will support organisations and individuals who need the most support to see them through this crisis. More details can be found on the Arts Council’s website (https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19).
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is also making £50 million available through the Heritage Emergency Fund which will address immediate pressures over the next 3-6 months for those most in need alongside increased investment in essential digital skills across the sector, providing expertise in critical areas such as digital fundraising, use of social media and communications, running online events and activities.
Historic England has also launched a £2 million Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund to provide grants to small heritage organisations. This funding will help organisations, voluntary groups and self-employed contractors survive the immediate challenges posed by the pandemic, and to prepare for recovery.