Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to support small town centres in recovering from the economic effects of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Paul Scully
This Government is?fully?committed to supporting the businesses and communities that make our high streets and town centres successful as the nation responds to the?impacts of the Covid-19 outbreak.? Now more than ever, it is vital that we continue to help our local economies by supporting town centres and high streets, adapt and evolve.
This Government has provided a comprehensive package of support of well over £200 billion. Many of the measures introduced, including loan schemes, tax deferrals, Self Employment Income Support Scheme and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, remain open and have been designed to be accessible to businesses in most sectors and across the UK.
On 25 May, the Government announced the £50m Reopening High Streets Safely Fund (RHSSF) to support Local Authorities in England to safely reopen their high streets, town centres and other commercial areas through Covid-19 related advice, awareness and practical measures to support safe trading.
On 22 October, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer also announced that further grant funding will be made available to support businesses in Very High Covid-19 local alert levels that are required to close by law in order to tackle Covid-19 and save lives. Funding for business grants will also be provided via local authorities to support businesses in High Covid-19 local alert level areas that are not required to close but will have had their trade affected, particularly by restrictions on household mixing.
Our immediate response to?Covid-19?builds on an ongoing programme of interventions. This includes the £3.6 billion Towns Fund, where we brought forward over £80m funding this year to support immediate improvements in 101 towns selected for deals. The fund will support local areas in England to renew and reshape town centres and high streets in a way that improves experience, drives growth and ensures future sustainability.
Government is also providing support through the High Streets Task Force, helping local leaders in their work revitalising their high streets and town centres by providing proactive support to local areas to develop data-driven innovative strategies and connect local areas to relevant experts. The High Streets Task Force is rolling out its expert, training and data offer across the country, and has launched a range of online support.
Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what guidance his Department has issued to tile retailers on their continued operation during (a) the November 2020 covid-19 lockdown and (b) all tiers of the localised covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
Answered by Paul Scully
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister addressed the nation on Monday 23 November setting out the Government’s COVID-19 Winter Plan. The COVID-19 Winter Plan sets out that the current national restrictions will be lifted on 2 December.
The Safer Working guidance was updated to reflect the national restrictions and again on 26 November to reflect the Prime Minister’s announcement of the new tiering regime.
Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that pensioners are able to access the Green Homes Grant Scheme.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
People in receipt of certain benefits, including Pension Guarantee Credit, will also qualify for the low-incomes scheme and be eligible for a more generous voucher of up to 100% of eligible costs up to a maximum of £10,000 rather than two thirds up to a maximum of £5,000.
Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what guidance his Department has provided to tanning salons on safe reopening as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Government published new guidance for Close Contact Services, such as tanning salons, on 23 June. This can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/close-contact-services.
Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of enabling mobile hairdressers to work during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Paul Scully
In order to reduce social contact, the Government has ordered non-essential businesses to close, this includes hairdressers and barbers. The nature of the industry involves close contact and it would not be possible for hairdressers to adhere to social distancing measures.
These remain closed, because the risk of transmission in these environments is higher due to the indoor environment and closer physical contact.
On 11th May we published our COVID-19 recovery strategy, which sets out a roadmap to a phased recovery. Over the coming months, Government will introduce a range of adjustments to current social distancing controls, timing these carefully according to both the current spread of the virus and the Government’s ability to ensure safety. Each step may involve adding new adjustments to the existing restrictions or taking some adjustments further.
The ambition to reopen hairdressers is part of Step 3 of the roadmap and we will work with the sector to develop safe ways for them to open at the earliest point at which it is safe to do so.
We continue to work with stakeholders on developing sensible guidance for businesses that will give UK workers the utmost confidence on their return to work. We will now focus on sectors that are not currently open to help them plan for when they can open.
Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure compatibility of smart meters between providers.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
Energy suppliers are now installing second generation smart (SMETS2) meters, which are connected to the national smart metering communications network run by the Data Communications Company (DCC) from the point of installation, so are already compatible between suppliers.
First generation smart (SMETS1) meters are being moved onto the DCC’s network so that consumers regain and keep smart services if they switch supplier. Meters are being enrolled remotely, without consumers needing to take any action. Priority is being given to those which have temporarily lost smart functionality.
Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he is taking steps to encourage highly skilled UK nationals based overseas to return to this country following the UK's departure from the EU; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Paul Scully
The rights of UK nationals who wish to continue living in the EU beyond 31st December 2020 have been secured through the Withdrawal Agreement. UK citizens living and working in the EEA or Switzerland by the end of the transition period can bring their close family members back to the UK with them under current conditions, to enable their family members to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, until 29 March 2022, as long as the relationship was formed by 31 January 2020. We will continue to maintain up-to-date guidance on the Gov.uk website for any UK national living abroad who is considering returning to the UK. We would welcome UK nationals of whatever skill level who wish to return to the UK, whether from within or beyond the EU.
Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to support rural post offices.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
While the Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office, it allows the company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent business.
The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in rural communities across the UK; this is why the Government committed in its 2017 manifesto to safeguard the post office network and enhance the provision of rural services.
Thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010 the overall number of post offices across the UK remains at its most stable in decades with over 11,500 branches. This investment includes the continuation of subsidy payments to support community post offices, the last shop in the village.
In addition, I met with Lord Gardiner of Kimble, the Minister for Rural Affairs, on 26 June 2019 to discuss the key role rural post offices play in communities. It remains a Government priority, as stated in the 2017 Conservative manifesto, to ensure the rural network is protected.