Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Streatham)
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 landlords and letting agents are passing on the Energy Bill Discount to tenants in properties with a heat network.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
If a heat network customer has a domestic electricity meter, they should already be in receipt of the Energy Bills Support Scheme. On 1 November, Government regulations came into force requiring intermediaries, such as landlords, to pass on energy bill support through to end users, such as tenants.
If a customer does not have a domestic electricity meter or a direct relationship with an electricity supplier, EBSS alternative Funding will provide a £400 support for energy bills. Eligibility, timescales and method of delivery will be announced shortly.
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Streatham)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department plans to take steps to (a) maintain and (b) strengthen the rights of employees of umbrella companies.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Government recently ran a Call for Evidence on the umbrella company market, which closed on 22 February 2022. Officials in HM Treasury and HMRC are working closely together to analyse the evidence submitted and will publish a summary of responses in due course. The Government is also continuing to work closely with business to improve compliance across the sector.
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Streatham)
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 SMEs in Streatham are (a) kept up to date with any changes to covid-19 restrictions and (b) supported with any measures they may be required to take in response to those changes.
Answered by Paul Scully
Throughout the pandemic, the Government has recognised the need to provide businesses, workers and the public with as much notice as possible of any changes to COVID-19 restrictions.
We published our Autumn and Winter plan for managing COVID-19 last September, including details of Plan B measures should they be required. Plan B measures are now in place to slow the spread of the virus and ease pressure on the NHS, while minimising the impact on lives and livelihoods.
The Government has provided around £400 billion of direct support for the economy through the pandemic to date, which has helped to safeguard jobs, businesses and public services in every region and nation of the UK.
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Streatham)
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 SMEs in Streatham that are experiencing cancellations and a decline in footfall during the covid-19.
Answered by Paul Scully
Recognising that the rise of the Omicron variant means some businesses are likely to struggle over this period, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 21 December that additional support will be available for businesses who have been impacted by the new variant.
The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant provides local councils with one-off grant funding to support hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses in England. Further information can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-youre-eligible-for-the-omicron-hospitality-and-leisure-grant.
The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) provides local councils with grant funding to support businesses that are severely impacted by coronavirus and the rise of the Omicron variant, which are not eligible for other grant funding. Further information can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-youre-eligible-for-the-coronavirus-additional-restrictions-grant. Around 200,000 businesses will be eligible for business grants which will be administered by Local Authorities. The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) fund is open until March 2022.
The Recovery Loan Scheme is open to all businesses, including those who have already received support under the existing COVID-19 guaranteed loan schemes. At the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced an extension of the scheme for SMEs from 1 January 2022 until 30 June 2022.