Asked by: Andrea Leadsom (Conservative - South Northamptonshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has in the forthcoming employment bill to include flexible working as standard; and what assessment he has made of the potential effect on that matter on levels of work life balance.
Answered by Paul Scully
In the Queens’ Speech, we announced that we will bring forward measures to deliver on a range of Manifesto commitments.
Our legislation will promote fairness in the workplace by striking the right balance between the flexibility that the economy needs and the security that workers deserve. In our manifesto, we committed to encouraging flexible working and consulting on making it the default unless employers have good reasons not to.
It is important that we work closely with stakeholders to make sure we get the legislation right, and we will bring forward details of the Employment Bill in due course.
The Government is clear about the benefits of flexible working for employees wishing to balance their working lives with their personal lives. Since 2014, all employees with 26 weeks’ continuous service have had the Right to Request Flexible Working. We are currently evaluating how effective those regulations have been.
Asked by: Andrea Leadsom (Conservative - South Northamptonshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2020 to Question 113087, what recent assessment he has made of the timeframe for the confirmation of the final budgets for COP26.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
Budget discussions are ongoing, and will continue to develop in the run up to COP26.
Asked by: Andrea Leadsom (Conservative - South Northamptonshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether a further tranche of COP26 funding will be made available to support UK organisations preparing for that conference.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
Discussions on the costs for COP26 are currently ongoing, and final budgets are yet to be confirmed.
Asked by: Andrea Leadsom (Conservative - South Northamptonshire)
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 establishing a licensing system for responsible venues in the business and hospitality sector to allow for an increase in the number of customers permitted with appropriate social distancing and other safety measures in those venues during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Paul Scully
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister addressed the nation on Saturday 31 October setting out new national restrictions. These restrictions will apply nationally for four weeks up to Wednesday 2 December, and will override the current Local Alert Level restrictions. Hospitality will be limited to takeaway and delivery. Therefore, no customers are permitted at venues for the time being.
Asked by: Andrea Leadsom (Conservative - South Northamptonshire)
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 (a) size of venues and (b) type of facility required to host greater numbers and more activities in larger establishments during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Paul Scully
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister addressed the nation on Saturday 31 October setting out new national restrictions. These restrictions will apply nationally for four weeks up to Wednesday 2 December, and will override the current Local Alert Level restrictions.
Some venues will be allowed to remain open for specific exempt activities, like childcare and support groups.
Depending on the venue and which Safer Places guidance applies, new guidance will be shared online at https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus.
Asked by: Andrea Leadsom (Conservative - South Northamptonshire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he is making an assessment of the potential merits of giving trade fairs and events organisers a three-month opening lead time to enable them to begin trading again.
Answered by Paul Scully
We have worked closely with stakeholders through both the Visitor Economy and Events & Entertainment Working Groups to develop Covid-19 Secure reopening guidance for providers of events. We continue to meet with sector representatives to discuss the specific issues impacting the full return of trade fairs and events.
Business meetings and events of up to 30 people indoors are allowed in permitted venues if social distancing can be maintained and the venue can demonstrate it has followed the COVID-19 guidance. The rule of six does not apply to work, education, and training activities. Larger business events will be only permitted once it is safe to do so based on public health advice.