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 made an assessment of the potential merits of changing travel agencies from non-essential retail to part of the culture, tourism, leisure and sport category to increase their eligibility for covid-19 support.

While no specific assessment has been made by the Department of the potential merits of changing travel agencies from non-essential retail to part of the culture, tourism, leisure and sport category, we have provided a range of measures to support all types of businesses including non-essential retail.

In the March Budget, my Rt hon Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced new ‘Restart Grants’ of up to £6,000 per premises for non-essential retail businesses and up to £18,000 per premises for hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym businesses in England. The Government is also providing all local authorities in England with an additional £425 million of discretionary business grant funding, on top of the £1.6 billion already allocated.