Asked by: Brandon Lewis (Conservative - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has conducted economic impact assessments of the effect of covid-19 on the UK tourist industry (a) regionally and (b) nationally.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
DCMS has closely monitored the impact of the pandemic using a mix of external data sources, as well as commissioning independent assessments and forecasts. This includes analysis of regional-level differences as well as national impact.
VisitBritain calculated that, on a national level, the estimated combined loss to the UK economy in 2020 & 2021 was £147 billion, of which inbound loss was £50 billion and UK-wide domestic loss was £97 billion.
Identifying that tourism was one of the sectors of the economy hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK was one of the first countries to set out a post-Covid Tourism Recovery Plan in summer 2021 and to remove the barriers to both domestic and international visitors. The Department will continue to monitor impact as part of assessing progress against its objectives set out in the Tourism Recovery Plan.
Asked by: Brandon Lewis (Conservative - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of changes to taxation for renewable energy companies on investment in the offshore renewable energy sector.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
From January 2023, a temporary new 45 per cent tax will be levied on extraordinary returns being realised from non-carbon electricity generators. It will raise around £14.2 billion over the scorecard, helping to fund support for households and businesses with their energy bills as well as vital public services.
The levy will only be applied to extraordinary returns defined as returns from selling electricity for a period at an average price of more than £75/MWh. This is approximately 1.5 times the average price of electricity over the last decade. The Government considers this to be a proportionate approach to recovering a share of the extraordinary profits certain electricity generators are receiving.
Asked by: Brandon Lewis (Conservative - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with representatives of the OYO hotel group on housing for asylum seekers (a) in Great Yarmouth constituency and (b) nationwide.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Minister for Immigration set out in his recent “Dear Colleague” letter we are committed to engaging in advance with Local Authorities when we need to set up a contingency accommodation
Our Providers work with a number of providers of accommodation and discussions in relation to the provision of accommodation, including price, would be commercially sensitive. We would therefore be unable to disclose the details of such discussions.
Asked by: Brandon Lewis (Conservative - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of low-noise fireworks on wildlife.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
We have made no such assessment. However, HM Government takes the issues associated with the sale and use of fireworks seriously. There is a comprehensive regulatory framework already in place for fireworks which aims to strike the right balance for people to enjoy fireworks, while aiming to reduce risks and disturbances to the welfare of animals. Information on how to use fireworks responsibly can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/news/staying-safe-with-fireworks
It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to cause an animal unnecessary suffering - and this includes through the misuse of fireworks. Users of fireworks need to use them responsibly and be aware of animals close by, and those found guilty of causing animals unnecessary suffering can face up to five years’ imprisonment.
Asked by: Brandon Lewis (Conservative - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Regulation 7 of The Fireworks Regulations 2004 at reducing the anti-social use of fireworks.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government endorses the considerate use of fireworks and action taken to reduce the risks and disturbances to individuals, animals and property. The majority of individuals who use fireworks do so in a responsible and safe manner and there are enforcement mechanisms in place to tackle situations when fireworks are misused.
Asked by: Brandon Lewis (Conservative - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will publish the anticipated timescale for the Department to assess and determine bids by local authorities to the Levelling Up Fund.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
Following the bid deadline on 2nd August, all bids submitted to the second round of the Levelling Up Fund are being assessed in line with our published guidance. I look forward to the Government announcing the successful bids before the end of the year.
Asked by: Brandon Lewis (Conservative - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking to level up coastal communities.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
I refer my Rt. Hon. Friend to the answer to Question UIN 54542 on 19 October 2022.
Asked by: Brandon Lewis (Conservative - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of using hotels to house asylum seekers on local community cohesion.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Home Office has a statutory obligation to provide accommodation and other support to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute while their application for asylum is being considered.
The significant increase in dangerous journeys across the Channel is placing unprecedented strain on our asylum system and it has made it necessary to continue to use hotels to accommodate some asylum seekers. The use of hotels is a short-term solution and we are working hard with local authorities to find appropriate accommodation.
Community cohesion is an important aspect of using sites successfully and we would like to work with the Council and relevant stakeholders to understand and act to your concerns as appropriate. I would advise that the next multi agency meeting is used to raise these concerns and we can understand how to work collaboratively in managing this situation.
Asked by: Brandon Lewis (Conservative - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of using multiple hotels within close proximity to each other to house asylum seekers on local communities.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Home Office has a statutory obligation to provide accommodation and other support to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute while their application for asylum is being considered.
The significant increase in dangerous journeys across the Channel is placing unprecedented strain on our asylum system and it has made it necessary to continue to use hotels to accommodate some asylum seekers. The use of hotels is a short-term solution and we are working hard with local authorities to find appropriate accommodation.
Community cohesion is an important aspect of using sites successfully and we would like to work with the Council and relevant stakeholders to understand and act to your concerns as appropriate. I would advise that the next multi agency meeting is used to raise these concerns and we can understand how to work collaboratively in managing this situation.
Asked by: Brandon Lewis (Conservative - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of using hotels to house asylum seekers in Great Yarmouth constituency on the tourism sector in that constituency.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Home Office has a statutory obligation to provide accommodation and other support to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute while their application for asylum is being considered.
The significant increase in dangerous journeys across the Channel is placing unprecedented strain on our asylum system and it has made it necessary to continue to use hotels to accommodate some asylum seekers. The use of hotels is a short-term solution and we are working hard with local authorities to find appropriate accommodation.
Community cohesion is an important aspect of using sites successfully and we would like to work with the Council and relevant stakeholders to understand and act to your concerns as appropriate. I would advise that the next multi agency meeting is used to raise these concerns and we can understand how to work collaboratively in managing this situation.