Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will publish a timescale for the resumption of wedding ceremonies with over 30 attendees as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
Answered by Paul Scully
We are continuing to engage with representatives from the industry to explore how larger weddings and celebrations may be resumed in a COVID-19 secure way, once it is safe to do so. The limit of 30 people who can attend a wedding ceremony is consistent with broader policy on public gatherings – it is unlawful for private parties of over 30 to take place and we are advising that gatherings and events in COVID-19 secure venues should not exceed 30 people.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
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 provide sector-specific support for the financial recovery of night clubs and the UK night time entertainment services sector after the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Paul Scully
We appreciate that the outbreak presents a significant challenge to the owners of nightclubs, which are still required to remain closed. The Government put in place an unprecedented programme of support to help businesses across the economy through the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, loan guarantees, grants, VAT deferral and the forfeiture moratorium. We are engaging regularly with the nightclub sector to understand their immediate and longer-term needs.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans his Department has to review the date for resuming facial treatments in beauty salons as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
Answered by Paul Scully
In my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s announcement on 17 July, close contact services including treatments to the face are allowed to resume as of 1 August, as long as they operate in a COVID-secure way.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals on neonatal leave and pay entitlement as announced in the March 2020 Budget.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Government is committed to providing parents with an entitlement to take extended leave for neonatal care, to support those new mothers and fathers who need it during the most stressful days of their lives.
This is why we committed at Budget to create an entitlement to Neonatal Leave and Pay for employees whose babies spend an extended period of time in neonatal care, providing up to 12 weeks paid leave so that parents do not have to choose between returning to work and taking care of their vulnerable newborn.
The new entitlement will be brought forward in due course through the necessary legislation as part of the Employment Bill.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
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 the financial recovery of the UK aerospace sector after the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The aerospace industry is benefiting from the Government’s £330 billion of Covid-19 support, which includes the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. The aerospace and aviation sectors are also benefiting from support through UK Export Finance, the Bank of England’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility, and grants for research and development. We remain in active discussion with aerospace businesses, including at sector level through the Aerospace Growth Partnership, to do all we can to help industry through the Covid-19 pandemic and back to growth.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans his Department has to make further funding available for the coronavirus Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Government has announced an unprecedented package of support for businesses to help with their ongoing business costs in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19. This package of support includes?the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF) and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF). As of 5 July, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council have paid out over £41.8 million in grants to 3,788 business premises under the SBGF and RHLGF.
On 1 May,?the Government announced that up to £617 million has been made available to Local Authorities?in England to allow them to provide discretionary grants.?Under the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund (LADGF), Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council have an additional £2.1 million to deliver to further small businesses.
We appreciate that there?is substantial demand for the LADGF,?and the scheme will not be able to support every business. Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council will need to manage?their?scheme to stay within?their?funding?allocation?and?will have?to make choices about which businesses?to?prioritise.
Officials are keeping in close contact with Local Authorities?to understand how the schemes are rolling out and advising ministers on any additional support?which could be offered to help businesses and support local economies. No decisions have yet been taken, but the level of demand will continue to be monitored.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans his Department has to review the date for the re-opening of (a) beauty salons and (b) beauticians’ services as the 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 beauty salons and beauticians’ services, 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: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
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 potential merits of introducing a code of practice on the minimum teaching requirements for companies delivering scaffolding training.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The Government recognises that scaffolding is a safety-critical sector, and that scaffolding that is adequately erected and maintained can help to prevent accidents in the construction industry.
The necessary levels of practical skills for scaffolders can be achieved through approved training and assessment programmes, in combination with experience in the workplace. The Government has no current plans to introduce a code of practice relating to teaching requirements for companies delivering scaffolding training.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
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 plan to review the date for the re-opening of sports massage therapist services as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Government has published safer working guidance on 23 June for close contact services, including sports massage therapist services. Following the Prime Minister’s announcement, hairdressers and barbers in England will be able to reopen from 4 July, once they are following the COVID-secure guidelines. Other close contact services, like sports massage therapists, remain closed until further notice.
We are taking a phased, cautious approach to reopening our economy, working with businesses, trade associations and medical experts on the safest way to reopen close contact services like sports massage therapists where there is often greater risk of transmission due to prolonged periods of face-to-face contact and close proximity between staff and customers.
We intend to allow close contact services to re-open as soon as it is safe to do so.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
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 companies delivering independent training to scaffolders who are not part of the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The Government is supporting the construction sector to increase investment in skills development, and to equip workers with the skills that they will need for the future.
This is a cross-industry drive, which includes companies delivering independent training to scaffolders who are not part of the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme. This will be achieved through a joint commitment to implement reforms to the Construction Industry Training Board to make it more strategic and industry-led, and to enable the sector to make best use of funding from the Apprenticeship Levy.