Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Swansea East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what economic impact assessment his Department has undertaken of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the extended closure of the wedding industry.
Answered by Paul Scully
Over the course of the pandemic the Government has provided an unprecedented package of financial support to businesses, including those in the wedding sector, which we keep under regular review.
I meet regularly with representatives of the wedding sector to understand the impact of COVID-19 on wedding businesses.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Swansea East)
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 Government funding for local authorities to allocate to businesses affected by the covid-19 lockdown is being distributed so that closed businesses are able to access that funding as soon as possible.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Government is working closely with local authorities in England to get funding out to businesses as quickly as possible. Local authority guidance was published on 3rd November and grant offer letters were sent to local authorities on 6th November. Payments to local authorities were made from 13th November.
The Local Restrictions Support Grant (closed) is applicable in England only. The Devolved Administrations are responsible for the administration of support schemes in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Swansea East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the Government’s trade credit reinsurance scheme will be ratified by the EU; and what steps the Government is taking to expedite that process.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Government’s Trade Credit Reinsurance scheme, which has been agreed following extensive discussions with the insurance sector, will see the majority of Trade Credit Insurance coverage maintained for businesses across the UK.
This scheme is subject to State aid approval from the European Commission. We are working closely with the Commission to address any outstanding concerns. Once approval is secured we will swiftly be able to put contractual arrangements in place with insurers.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Swansea East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on (a) new online harms legislation and (b) the inclusion of the sale of unsafe electrical goods in that legislation.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is engaging closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on the issues of unsafe goods sold online.
DCMS is continuing to scope the Online Harms regulation and is working to finalise the details of the regulatory framework. The Government response to the Online Harms White Paper consultation will be published in due course.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Swansea East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent steps his Department has taken to prevent the sale of unsafe electrical goods on online platforms.
Answered by Paul Scully
The UK has a strong product safety system which requires that products should be safe before they can be placed on the market, including those sold online.
Officials in OPSS are reviewing the product safety legislation to determine whether the existing legislative framework is adequate in light of the changes to traditional supply and distribution chains brought about by e-commerce.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Swansea East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if his Department will publish further clarification on when (a) spas, (b) beauty businesses (c) mobile practitioners can resume their operations during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Paul Scully
Hairdressers and barbers in England will be able to reopen from 4 July to offer hairdressing services, once they are following the COVID-secure guidelines.
Other close contact services, like nail salons, beauty and tattoo parlours remain closed until further notice.
We appreciate that this is difficult for some businesses. Our approach is guided by the scientific and medical advice, and every step is weighed against the evidence, remembering that the more we open up the more vigilant we will need to be.
The Government will work with the remaining closed services to establish a timeline for when they can reopen safely.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Swansea East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the evidential basis was for the decision to permit hair and not beauty appointments during the covid-19 outbreak from 4 July 2020.
Answered by Paul Scully
From 4 July, hairdressers will be able to reopen provided they adhere to the safer working guidelines. However, beauty parlours and make-up studios remain closed until further notice. The Government recognises that this is difficult for some businesses. Every step is weighed against the evidence, remembering that the more we open up the more vigilant we will need to be.
Our approach to the types of businesses who can reopen is guided by the scientific and medical advice. SAGE provides world-leading scientific advice to the Government. However, making any changes depends on us continuing to meet the five tests.
We will continue to work with those industries that are still closed to understand how best we can reopen them safely, at the right time, guided by the science.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Swansea East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when his Department plans to review the guidelines on restrictions in place for close contact services during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Paul Scully
Following my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s announcement on 23 June, some close contact services such as hairdressers, pubs and restaurants will be able to reopen on 4 July, provided they adhere to the safer working guidelines. We have published guidance for these sectors on 23 June to provide ways these businesses can ensure a safe reopening.
As some examples, hairdressers and barbers should wear visors as additional protection, use an appointment only policy, avoid overlapping appointments, distance customer seating appropriately, clean thoroughly after each client, prepare equipment in advance to reduce movement in spaces, and screen customers ahead of the appointment to check they do not have symptoms.
We have been taking a phased, cautious approach to reopening our economy, so that we do not risk a second peak of the virus. We will continue to work with those industries that are still closed to understand how best we can reopen them safely, at the right time, guided by the science.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Swansea East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with online platforms on preventing sales of counterfeit and substandard electrical goods on their websites.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government takes the issue of IP infringement seriously, including counterfeit electrical goods, and is working with industry and law enforcement agencies on several initiatives to tackle this issue.
Department officials have been holding roundtable meetings with representatives from online platforms and rights holders to discuss the availability of counterfeits on their platforms and to help co-ordinate law enforcement action against sellers.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Swansea East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
If he will publish guidance on when hair, beauty, spa and wellness businesses can reopen in (a) salon and (b) non-salon settings during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
As set out in Government’s roadmap, it is our ambition to reopen such businesses from 4 July at the earliest, subject to the scientific advice at the time.
Our guidance will be published before any reopening in order to allow businesses time to adequately prepare.