Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when tattoo parlours will be permitted to reopen as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
Answered by Paul Scully
Hairdressers and barbers in England were able to reopen from 4 July to offer hairdressing services. Other close contact services, like tattoo parlours, remain closed until further notice. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister, in his speech on 3rd July, stated that a timetable for the reopening of these closed sectors would be set out this week.
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.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when nail parlous will be permitted to reopen as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
Answered by Paul Scully
Hairdressers and barbers in England were able to reopen from 4 July to offer hairdressing services. Other close contact services, like nail parlours, remain closed until further notice. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister, in his speech on 3rd July, stated that a timetable for the reopening of these closed sectors would be set out this week.
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.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 15 June 2020 to Question 57088 on Hospitality Industry: Social Distancing, what the (a) identity and (b) powers are of the relevant enforcing authorities.
Answered by Paul Scully
As is the case now, individual business owners will be responsible for ensuring their customers adhere to social distancing guidelines wherever possible.
Depending on the business, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities enforce health and safety in these workplaces and will monitor compliance including through inspections and following up on concerns raised by individuals with them.
They can take action against any business who isn’t complying with their legal health and safety obligations, including providing guidance and issuing enforcement notices to require them to take the necessary action or taking further action, including fines, if they continue to not comply.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Answer of 15 June 2020 to Question 57088 on Hospitality Industry: Social Distancing, what measures are planned to protect customers and employees; and how those measures will be enforced.
Answered by Paul Scully
We have now published (23 June) new guidance for pubs, restaurants, and bars. This supports my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s announcement on 23 June for their reopening from 4 July, provided they are COVID-secure. The guidance was developed following consultation with representatives from the industry.
The guidance sets out various measures for these businesses to consider including calculating the maximum number of customers they can provide services to in a socially distanced manner, reconfiguring seating areas, setting up handwashing facilities, providing clear communications about the rules indoors and outdoors, considering contactless payment methods, adjusting working practices to minimise staff and customer contact, and using outdoor spaces as much as possible.
The guidance is non-statutory but does not change existing obligations relating to health and safety, employment, or equalities. Employers have a duty under UK law to protect the health and safety of their workers and other people who might be affected by their business. This includes considering the risks that COVID-19 represents.
As is the case now, individual business owners will be responsible for ensuring their customers adhere to social distancing guidelines wherever possible.
Depending on the business, the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities enforce health and safety in these workplaces and will monitor compliance including through inspections and following up on concerns raised by individuals with them.
They can take action against any business who isn’t complying with their legal health and safety obligations, including providing guidance and issuing enforcement notices to require them to take the necessary action or taking further action, including fines, if they continue to not comply.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
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 implications for his policies of the finding of the Usdaw survey, published on 18 June 2020, that 92 per cent of retail workers do not want the six-hour Sunday trading cap removed; and what plans he has to take that finding into account considering extension of Sunday trading hours.
Answered by Paul Scully
There are currently no plans to increase Sunday trading hours, although we will keep measures like this under review as we examine ways to support the economy and consumers to manage the impact of covid-19. The views of retail workers and their representatives are an important consideration whenever considering a policy change relevant to the sector. Shop employees (except those employed to work exclusively on Sundays) have the right to opt out of Sunday working.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when pubs, bars and restaurants reopen following covid-19 lockdown measures what (a) enforcement measures and (b) penalties will be in place if those venues fail to enforce social distancing.
Answered by Paul Scully
We are working at pace to develop safe ways for pubs, restaurants, bars and cafes to reopen at the earliest opportunity it is safe to do so, through our pubs and restaurants taskforce. As set out in the roadmap, it is our ambition to reopen pubs, cafes, bars and restaurants from 4 July at the earliest, subject to the scientific advice at the time. However, pubs, restaurants and cafes can continue to offer takeaway-enabled services as they have been during lockdown.
Our guidance forms part of employers’ normal health and safety practice. Health and safety legislation is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive, the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland and by local authorities. Social distancing is a key part of our scientific advice. This will be considered by employers as part of their risk assessment.
If the enforcing authority finds that an employer is not taking action to properly manage workplace risk, a range of actions are is open to them, including specific advice or issuing enforcement notices.