Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he was consulted on the recent decision by UK Research and Innovation not to extend the studentships of doctoral students affected by the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The Government recognises that the disruption of recent months has impacted the ability of doctoral students to undertake their research projects. This has led to students having to adjust their projects, making decisions around changing their approach, collecting different data, or changing the way they had planned to work with people, labs, archives or facilities.
As it is not possible for all students to adjust their projects and training plan in such a way, I announced in April that UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)-funded PhD students in the final year and whose studies have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic would be provided with additional support. Subsequently on the 11th November, UKRI provided a further £19.1 million of funding to support students in earlier years, including disabled students, those with long-term illness, those who are neurodivergent, or those with caring responsibilities.
Combined, these two interventions have meant that UKRI has made over £60 million of financial support available to students most impacted by the pandemic. It is estimated that this funding is available for up to 12,000 students.
UKRI as the national funding agency for research and innovation, has independence to deliver funding under the direction of BEIS ministers. BEIS and UKRI are continuing to assess the impact of Covid 19 across all the research and innovation they fund.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether a person who has been informed by letter that they are clinically extremely vulnerable and should not go to work can be put on the new Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) continues to support businesses and individuals throughout the UK. Where employees are deemed to be clinically extremely vulnerable, they can be furloughed through the CJRS. As with the previous scheme, it is up to employers to decide whether to furlough these employees.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds South)
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 effect on the UK car industry of tariffs in the event that no agreement is reached in the current negotiations between the UK and the EU on the future relationship.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
We are confident that we can reach a deal and will continue to work hard to reach an agreement with the EU for as long as there is a constructive process ongoing. The Political Declaration sets out our ambition for a zero tariff and zero quota Free Trade Agreement; reducing the costs and processes associated with trade is in the interests of people and businesses across the UK and the EU.
Extensive engagement has been taking place between the Government and the automotive sector on future trade negotiations. We shall continue to work with companies over the next few months to ensure that they are well prepared for the end of the transition period.
In addition, the Government has a long-standing programme of support to maintain the competitiveness of the UK’s automotive sector.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has issued advice to energy companies on doorstep cold-calling during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
The energy regulator Ofgem has a duty to protect the interests of consumers.
Ofgem rules to protect consumers subject to doorstop sales activity, include requirements that companies and their representatives only recommend tariffs that are appropriate to a consumers circumstances and preferences and that a record of the information provided to a consumer is kept for two years.
In an open letter published on 16 June, Ofgem set out their expectation that face to face activities should be in line with Government Covid-19 guidelines.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reason tanning salons are currently unable to open as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are being eased; what assessment he has made of the risks of their opening; and what guidance he can provide on how to mitigate those risks.
Answered by Paul Scully
On 23 June, the Government published guidance for close contact services, including tanning salons, on how they can reopen safely once they are able to do so.
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 massage therapists, beauty salons and tattoo parlours, 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, such as reflexologists and tattoo parlours to re-open as soon as it is safe to do so.
Our approach is guided by the scientific and medical advice, and making any changes to our approach depends on us continuing to meet the five tests.