Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to support the British curry industry.
Answered by Lord Callanan
There is a significant package of support currently available to businesses in restaurant and takeaway sectors. These include:
In order to support businesses wishing to remain open, the Government has also changed regulations to enable restaurants, cafes and pubs to offer delivery and food takeaways without going through the normal planning process.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, if any, with the Bangladesh Caterers Association on how best to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on the Bangladesh catering sector in the UK (1) while restrictions are in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic, and (2) afterwards.
Answered by Lord Callanan
The Government has regular contact with the hospitality industry, and one of my Ministerial colleagues has spoken with the Bangladesh Caterers Association. The Department’s ministerial team will continue to engage with a variety of representatives from the sector to develop safe ways for the sector to reopen.
We recognise the challenges the hospitality industry faces during this time, which is why we have been providing extensive support for businesses, including specific grants for the sector, as well as our furlough scheme which has been extended until October, 100% business rates holidays, and tens of billions of pounds’ worth of business loans and guarantees.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to support the restaurant and hospitality sector as the restrictions in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic are lifted.
Answered by Lord Callanan
The Government have engaged with hospitality businesses to discuss various issues around reopening, including financial issues. This Department’s ministerial team are in weekly contact with the industry.
We have now published new guidance for pubs, restaurants, and bars which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19. This supports my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s announcement on 23 June for their reopening from 4 July. The guidance was developed following consultation with representatives from the industry.
The Government has also conducted a comprehensive review of the 2m social distancing rule and from 4 July, our advice is changing to state that people should either stay 2m apart or ‘1m plus’ – which is one metre plus mitigations.
Where businesses need to operate at 1m to be viable they should do so, provided they put in place the appropriate mitigations.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that protective measures are in place for (1) staff, and (2) customers, in the retail and hospitality sectors; and how compliance with these measures will be monitored.
Answered by Lord Callanan
The Government announced (on 11 May) and updated (on 14 June) comprehensive guidance for shops and branches, which employers can deploy. We have also published (on 23 June) new guidance for close contact services and restaurants, pubs and bars. This supports my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s announcement (on 23 June) for their reopening from 4 July where they can do so in a safe and COVID-secure way.
Enforcement bodies, such as the Health and Safety Executive and Local Authorities, have put measures in place to support the implementation of the safer workplaces guidance. Government will consider if a stronger approach is needed and will take appropriate action as necessary.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the number of ethnic minority women, including Muslim women, occupying FTSE 100 finance chief roles.
Answered by Lord Henley
Diversity and inclusion in the boardroom and the workplace is a hugely important element of building an economy that works for all. The Government is committed to a cohesive society, where everyone – no matter what their background – has the opportunity to enter into and progress at work and achieve on merit.
Sir John Parker’s business-led review into ethnic minorities on FTSE boards published in November 2017, showed that only about 8% of FTSE 100 Directors were from an ethnic minority background, and just over 2% were British citizens from an ethnic minority background, compared to the 14% of the UK population. That is why Government supports and has been promoting the recommendation made by Sir John that all FTSE 100 companies should have at least one director of colour by 2021.
We are supporting the Hampton-Alexander Review to meet their targets of women holding 33% of senior leadership positions and 33% of board positions in the FTSE 350, by 2020. We are also supporting the Women in Finance Review Charter, which commits firms to support the progression of women into senior roles in the financial services by focusing on the executive pipeline and publicly reporting on progress against internal targets.