Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have died with covid-19 recorded as the cause of death to date; and what proportion of those people had tested positive for covid-19.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Daily statistics for COVID-19 related deaths in the United Kingdom, which consist of deaths with lab-confirmed COVID-19 in all settings, are published on the GOV.UK website. The latest data is available at:
https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/
In addition, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes provisional weekly data on deaths registered in England and Wales where “COVID-19” was mentioned on death certificates. This data can be viewed on the ONS website at the following link:
Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department has taken to encourage commercial lenders provide temporary commercial mortgage repayment holidays to businesses in the tourism and hospitality industries.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government has worked proactively with lenders to ensure that flexible support is provided to commercial landlords, including those in the tourism and hospitality sectors, through this difficult time. We announced on 29 May that lenders are committed to showing flexibility to commercial landlord customers that need it. The full statement can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-publish-code-of-practice-with-commercial-sector-in-boost-to-high-street
A payment holiday is one of the options available for those that are facing financial difficulty and lenders are attempting to maximise the flexibility they can offer to borrowers at this time.
Ahead of the June payment day, all the main commercial lenders will be in contact with their major commercial landlord borrowers to identify concerns they have and provide support where appropriate.
It is right that where landlords receive support, they extend this to their tenants.
Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Sea Angling Survey will be published for 2020.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
The annual UK Sea Angling Survey for 2020 is underway. The final report will be published in summer 2021.
Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing repayment holidays for vehicle leasing during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
On 27 April, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published guidance that sets out what it expects firms to do for customers who are facing temporary payment difficulties due to the exceptional circumstances arising from COVID-19. This includes granting the customer a payment deferral for 3 months on motor finance and leasing payments.
The Government continues to work closely with the FCA and industry on this matter and stand ready to protect consumers wherever it is necessary.
Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department has taken to support shared-ownership housing scheme applicants who are enrolled on the Government furlough scheme.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The furlough scheme is a strong package of financial support, so where they can, shared owners should still pay the rent to their landlord and mortgage to their lender as normal.
Shared owners who are struggling to meet their financial commitments can apply for universal credit to get help paying their rent and might be able to get Support for Mortgage Interest if they have been on benefits for 39 weeks without any breaks.
On 17 March the Chancellor also announced, on behalf of the sector, that banks and building societies will offer a 3-month ‘mortgage holiday’ for borrowers struggling financially as a result of COVID-19. Like other mortgage holders, shared owners who are struggling to meet their mortgage payments will be able to request a mortgage payment holiday from their lender.
Shared owners should not be forced out of their home during this difficult time. The Coronavirus Act 2020 rules that landlords must give three months’ notice of possession, and the moratorium on repossessions by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) means that lenders should not commence or continue repossession proceedings against their customers.
Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations he has received on Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authorities being unable to introduce emergency byelaws because of uncertainty on the test in s157(2) (6) Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 which is resulting in juvenile bass being caught in nets with undersize mesh; and if he will take steps to work with Fish Legal to provide urgent clarificatory guidance for Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authorities on that matter.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) are independent statutory authorities and have direct responsibility to manage sea fisheries resources sustainably in their districts. Therefore, it is for each IFCA to decide whether a situation warrants an emergency byelaw and if this meets the qualifying criteria as laid down in section 157 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. Defra has provided best practice guidance on IFCA byelaw-making, including emergency byelaws made under section 157, and the department has not been approached by any IFCA to provide further statutory guidance on this statutory provision.
Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of arranging with the Independent Community News Network and the Publish Interest News Foundation for a portion of public health campaign spending to be disbursed across the independent media sector.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The government recognises the vital role of independent newspapers in supporting communities by ensuring the provision of reliable, high-quality information throughout the current pandemic. Safeguarding the UK’s news media so that they are able to continue to provide this is a key priority for the government and we are in regular dialogue with a range of stakeholders, including publishers, the Independent Community News Network and the Public Interest News Foundation to ensure that our response to the challenges they are facing is as effective and wide reaching as it can be.
The government will continue to consider all possible options in the interests of promoting and sustaining high-quality news journalism. Never have the activities of journalists been more popular and critical; providing quality news to all, including those self-isolating, and binding communities together, a fundamental function of our modern day democracy.
Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will meet with the (a) Independent Community News Network and (b) Publish Interest News Foundation to discuss the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the independent news media sector.
Answered by John Whittingdale
I met with the Independent Community News Network and the Public Interest News Foundation on 6 May to discuss Government support for the independent news publishing sector in light of the impacts of Covid-19. This meeting included a discussion on the effects of the Covid-19 outbreak on the independent news media sector, the Government's public information awareness campaign, and the ways in which the independent sector may be used to reach underserved audiences. I continue to engage with the
Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
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 adding the National Association of Sub-Postmasters to his Department's industry group.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Government has already established a quarterly working group between the BEIS Minister for Postal Affairs, the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters (NFSP) and Post Office Limited to discuss how the relationship between the Post Office and postmasters can be improved. The working group also provides the NFSP with a forum to challenge Government and the Post Office on key issues, such as postmaster remuneration and hard-to-place branches. Officials also meet the NFSP on a regular basis
Asked by: Scott Mann (Conservative - North Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions he has had with the Post Office on their 100 day strategy for growth.
Answered by Paul Scully
The CEO of Post Office Limited regularly meet with BEIS Ministers, through scheduled monthly meetings with the Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets as well as through wider Shareholder Meetings.
These meetings are held to discuss a range of matters including the development of the business’s new strategy under CEO Nick Read.