Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
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 has taken to ensure installers can undertake their commitments as part of the Green Homes Grant scheme during the covid-19 outbreak; and what penalties are in place to ensure installers undertake work they have committed to do.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Based on the latest advice from my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister, tradespeople may continue to work if they are unable to do so from home. Installers registering and participating in the Green Homes Grant Scheme must agree to the Installer Terms and Conditions. As stated in paragraph 13f under General Obligations:
‘At all times when participating in the Scheme...the Installer must: comply, and ensure that its officers, employees, agents and subcontractors comply, with UK Government best practice “Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19)” when working at or in any Customer’s property’.
We understand that COVID-19 restrictions may affect the ability to install measures in households. We will not be imposing any penalties for installers who are unable to undertake work they have committed to as a result of the current restrictions but, as ever, vouchers will only become redeemable once scheduled works have been completed.
The extension to the scheme will allow more flexibility for when installations can take place, and we are working to ensure that voucher validity period reflects the coronavirus situation where necessary.
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
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 (a) value of the cash in transit industry to the UK economy and (b) number of people employed in that industry.
Answered by Paul Scully
Secure collection and delivery of money, receipts and other valuable items is an activity undertaken by private security firms alongside many other activities rather than being a specific industry itself. These include security guard services, installation of security equipment, security consultancy and investigation activities. Therefore, we are unable to allocate value and employment to this particular activity. Private security and investigation activities as a whole contributed £3.3bn in Gross Vale Added to the UK economy in 2019 and accounted for nearly 230,000 jobs.
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
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 has taken to support the cash-in-transit industry.
Answered by Paul Scully
UK Businesses, including those within the cash in transit industry, may be eligible to access the business support packages launched by the Government during the coronavirus outbreak. This includes Business Interruption Loans, and potentially the discretionary grant fund administered by local authorities.
Our network of 38 growth hubs also provide tailored support free of charge to firms based in England, covering sources of business finance, as well as training and networking opportunities. Firms in the devolved administrations will be able to access similar services.
All business support and advice is listed on the GOV.UK website.
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on retaining jobs in the airline industry.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
The Government continues to work closely with the airline industry. We have put unprecedented levels of support in place to help industry, including airlines, who have drawn down £1.8billion of loan support through the Bank of England’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF) to help them continue activities.
In addition, my Rt Hon Friend, the Secretary of State for Transport, is leading an International Aviation Task Force, to help put measures in place to kickstart the sector – helping to restore jobs, trade, and opportunities for travel.
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many times he has (a) spoken to or (b) requested to speak to (i) Willie Walsh, chief executive of International Airlines Group and (ii) Alex Cruz, chief executive of British Airways since the start of the 2020.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The Department has undertaken extensive engagement with businesses across a range of sectors since the start of 2020, particularly in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the Department for Transport has historically maintained regular engagement with British Airways and the International Airlines Group as important industry stakeholders.
In recognition of the challenging times that the aviation sector continues to face due to Covid-19, the Government has kept an open dialogue with UK airlines, including British Airways and the International Airlines Group.
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of switching to metric measurements for distance.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
Metric units are the legal units for all measurement of length other than for road traffic signs, distance and speed measurements where the mile, yard, foot and inch are the primary units of measurement.
The use of units of measurement for these purposes is a matter for the Department of Transport.