Asked by: David Evennett (Conservative - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what support his Department is providing to businesses that are adversely affected by the covid-19 lockdown announced in January 2021.
Answered by Paul Scully
My Rt hon Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on the 5th January a further package of support for businesses that are required to close, or which are severely affected by the restrictions put in place to tackle Covid-19 and save lives.
Business that are mandated to close may be eligible for grants of up to £4,500 for every six weeks of closure through the Local Restrictions Support Grant Addendum: 5 January Onward. The Closed Business Lockdown Payment is a one-off payment of up to £9,000 to support business during the difficult Spring period.
A further £500 million of discretionary funding has been made available via the Additional Restrictions Grant, this may be used to support business who have not been mandated to close but had their trade severely affected by restrictions.
We have extended the application deadline for the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme until 31 March 2021. Bounce Back Loan borrowers will also be able to top-up their loan, extend their loan term to ten years and take advantage of repayment holidays
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will remain open until the end of April 2021, with employees receiving 80% of their current salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500.
Asked by: David Evennett (Conservative - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much financial support has been provided to the hospitality sector in (a) tier 1, (b) tier 2 and (c) tier 3 local covid alert level areas since the introduction of those restrictions.
Answered by Paul Scully
We are providing hospitality sector in Tiers 2 and 3 with a wide package of support to help them through the current crisis. This includes the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, government-backed loans, Local Restrictions Support Grants and additional funding provided to Local Authorities to support businesses. On 1 December, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced an additional £1,000 Christmas grant for ‘wet-led pubs’ in tiers 2 and 3.
Asked by: David Evennett (Conservative - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the number of pubs that have closed in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, (b) Bexley Borough, (c) London and (d) England in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Paul Scully
The ONS data below shows the overall number of public houses and bars in Bexleyheath and Crayford, Bexley Borough, London and England in each year from 2011 to 2020. Numbers of business closures specifically (VAT de-registrations) are not available at this level of industrial and geographical detail.
Number of Public House and Bar Local Units
Date | Bexleyheath and Crayford | Bexley | London* | England |
2011 | 95 | 40 | 3,795 | 36,455 |
2012 | 95 | 40 | 3,795 | 35,900 |
2013 | 95 | 35 | 3,685 | 34,670 |
2014 | 85 | 35 | 3,635 | 34,255 |
2015 | 90 | 40 | 3,690 | 34,215 |
2016 | 90 | 40 | 3,630 | 33,585 |
2017 | 95 | 40 | 3,545 | 33,045 |
2018 | 90 | 35 | 3,560 | 32,960 |
2019 | 85 | 35 | 3,550 | 33,305 |
2020 | 85 | 35 | 3,590 | 33,125 |
Source: ONS Business Counts. *Series break due to London geographical boundary change in 2016
Asked by: David Evennett (Conservative - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Government support provided to pubs during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Paul Scully
We regularly engage with the industry to understand the challenges that pubs are facing. We have provided a range of business support which pubs have been able to take advantage of, including a one-year business rates holiday, business support grants and government-backed loans. Recently, further support has been announced such as the Job Support Scheme and its extension and the Local Restrictions Support Grant scheme.
Asked by: David Evennett (Conservative - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many applications have been (a) accepted and (b) rejected under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme.
Answered by Paul Scully
As of 31 May, 699,354 loans have been approved under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), with a total value of £21.29 billion.
The Scheme has received 873,192 applications. The applications figure includes: approved applications; applications that are still to be processed; applications that have been declined; and applications that may turn out not to be eligible or cases where customers will decide not to proceed.
Asked by: David Evennett (Conservative - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much the average loan application is for the Bounce Back Loan Scheme.
Answered by Paul Scully
As of 31 May, 699,354 loans have been approved under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), with a total value of £21.29 billion.