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 effect of the closure of IT repair shops under November 2020 covid-19 lockdown restrictions on the ability of people to work from home in line with Government guidelines; if he will make the safe re-opening of those businesses a priority; and if he will make a statement.
Some retail shops are required to close, but all are able to provide Click and Collect services if they operate in a COVID-secure manner. The Cabinet Office guidance states that businesses that provide services (rather than goods) are not required to close, unless listed in section 2 of the guide: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close/closing-certain-businesses-and-venues-in-england.
As my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister has said, the regulations will expire on 2 December and we plan to move back to a tiered approach. The safe reopening of all workplaces has been a priority since the initial phase of the pandemic.