Carol Monaghan

This Government recognises the importance of the UK’s creative and cultural industries, not only to the economy and international reputation of the United Kingdom, but also to the wellbeing and enrichment of its people. We want musicians and performers to be able to tour abroad easily.

EU Member States are principally responsible for deciding the rules governing what work UK visitors can undertake in each Member State. That is why we have engaged with EU Member States about the importance of touring; most recently raised at the EU-UK Partnership Council in March. From these discussions, almost all Member States have confirmed they offer visa and work permit free routes for musicians and creative performers, many for up to 90 days. This includes most of the UK’s biggest touring markets such as France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands.

Beyond these exemptions, creatives are required to obtain the relevant visa or work permit for the relevant Member State, as artists from other third countries are required to do. We have developed guidance on GOV.UK to support artists to understand the visa and permit requirements for medium and long term stays in Member States.

The Government is committed to supporting the sector to adapt to these new arrangements, and we continue to work with the sector and directly with Member States to clarify what creative workers need to do.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Questions 45188, 45189, and 45190.

COP26 presents an amazing opportunity for both Glasgow and the world. Inevitably, a conference of this size brings both huge opportunities as well as some disruption to the local community hosting the event. In consultation with police and local authority partners, a decision was taken that there will be an extensive security perimeter around the event site to protect attendees. It is unavoidable that a small number of businesses will either need to close or will have disruption to staff and client access.

The COP Unit is contacting affected businesses directly and will be providing compensation. Businesses are eligible only where they are based inside the secure perimeter and will not have facilitated access for their staff and clients.

In some cases, businesses within the restricted security perimeter will be able to stay open to provide services to event staff and delegates, although not for public access. The UK Government is providing compensation to these businesses to reflect potential shortfall in revenue where this can be clearly demonstrated based on an assessment of comparable periods.

We will not be able to offer compensation to businesses outside the restricted secure perimeters or for businesses inside the secure perimeters who are able to remain open for trading.

The Clyde Maritime Trust Tall Ship Glenlee falls within the outer security perimeter.

COP26 presents an amazing opportunity for both Glasgow and the world. Inevitably, a conference of this size brings both huge opportunities as well as some disruption to the local community hosting the event. In consultation with police and local authority partners, a decision was taken that there will be an extensive security perimeter around the event site to protect attendees. It is unavoidable that a small number of businesses will either need to close or will have disruption to staff and client access.

The COP Unit is contacting affected businesses directly and will be providing compensation. Businesses are eligible only where they are based inside the secure perimeter and will not have facilitated access for their staff and clients.

In some cases, businesses within the restricted security perimeter will be able to stay open to provide services to event staff and delegates, although not for public access. The UK Government is providing compensation to these businesses to reflect potential shortfall in revenue where this can be clearly demonstrated based on an assessment of comparable periods.

We will not be able to offer compensation to businesses outside the restricted secure perimeters or for businesses inside the secure perimeters who are able to remain open for trading.

The Clyde Maritime Trust Tall Ship Glenlee falls within the outer security perimeter.

COP26 presents an amazing opportunity for both Glasgow and the world. Inevitably, a conference of this size brings both huge opportunities as well as some disruption to the local community hosting the event. In consultation with police and local authority partners, a decision was taken that there will be an extensive security perimeter around the event site to protect attendees. It is unavoidable that a small number of businesses will either need to close or will have disruption to staff and client access.

The COP Unit is contacting affected businesses directly and will be providing compensation. Businesses are eligible only where they are based inside the secure perimeter and will not have facilitated access for their staff and clients.

In some cases, businesses within the restricted security perimeter will be able to stay open to provide services to event staff and delegates, although not for public access. The UK Government is providing compensation to these businesses to reflect potential shortfall in revenue where this can be clearly demonstrated based on an assessment of comparable periods.

We will not be able to offer compensation to businesses outside the restricted secure perimeters or for businesses inside the secure perimeters who are able to remain open for trading.

The Clyde Maritime Trust Tall Ship Glenlee falls within the outer security perimeter.

I cannot comment on Cabinet discussions, or on whether or not I have given legal advice.

What I can say is that the Government remains fully committed to the principle of family reunion and supporting the most vulnerable children. Clause 37 of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill does not represent a change of government policy in that regard. It simply removes the statutory requirement to negotiate.

The Government Service Standard states that GOV.UK services must allow users to tell the Government what they think about a service, once they have used it. Services should also provide users with the opportunity to provide feedback whilst they are using the service.

GOV.UK provides a range of information and guidance to support users to contact individual government departments.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to PQ 7856 on 7 June 2021 and PQ HL14191 on 23 April 2021.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to PQ 7856 on 7 June 2021 and PQ HL14191 on 23 April 2021.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to PQ 7856 on 7 June 2021 and PQ HL14191 on 23 April 2021.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to PQs 144853 on 1 February 2021 and 161667 on 15 March 2021.

The Government is clear that targeting misinformation at any community is completely unacceptable. This is why the cross-Whitehall Counter Disinformation Unit was stood up on 5 March 2020. The Rapid Response Unit, operating from within the Cabinet Office and No10, also tackles a range of harmful narratives online - from purported ‘experts’ issuing dangerous misinformation, to criminal fraudsters running phishing scams.

We have been working with a wide range of faith groups to support vaccine confidence communication amongst different communities. Regarding African communities specifically, HMG has partnered with community news outlets including the African Voice over the course of the pandemic to address key points of concern and serve to provide reassurance within these communities.

Moreover, on 28 February, 60 black majority church leaders issued a joint statement in support of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout. The Christian leaders united to ensure the community were kept informed, and to dispel misinformation and disinformation about the vaccine in response to data that shows black people are among those most likely to be hesitant about receiving the Covid-19 vaccine.

We recently published our response to the consultation on parental leave and pay. This detailed our planned reforms to make Paternity Leave and Pay more flexible and easier to take, including increasing the period of time within which leave can be taken and allowing it to be taken in non-consecutive blocks. In line with other parental pay entitlements, Paternity Pay is paid at the statutory rate.

The standard rate of Statutory Paternity Pay and Statutory Maternity Pay is reviewed annually and from April 2023, it increased by September's CPI figure of 10.1 per cent to £172.48.

We recently published our response to the consultation on parental leave and pay. This detailed our planned reforms to make Paternity Leave and Pay more flexible and easier to take, including increasing the period of time within which leave can be taken and allowing it to be taken in non-consecutive blocks. In line with other parental pay entitlements, Paternity Pay is paid at the statutory rate.

The standard rate of Statutory Paternity Pay and Statutory Maternity Pay is reviewed annually and from April 2023, it increased by September's CPI figure of 10.1 per cent to £172.48.

We recently published our response to the consultation on parental leave and pay. This detailed our planned reforms to make Paternity Leave and Pay more flexible and easier to take, including increasing the period of time within which leave can be taken and allowing it to be taken in non-consecutive blocks. In line with other parental pay entitlements, Paternity Pay is paid at the statutory rate.

The standard rate of Statutory Paternity Pay and Statutory Maternity Pay is reviewed annually and from April 2023, it increased by September's CPI figure of 10.1 per cent to £172.48.

The Department aims to respond to correspondence within 15 working days. I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

The Government currently has no plans to change postal services legislation.

Ofcom is the independent regulator for the sector with the responsibility and powers to regulate postal services.

The Government has been unable to establish a robust method for households in caravans not on permanent sites to prove that their caravan is their main or sole residence, whilst protecting public funds against fraud. However, we recommend that these households should contact their local authority to apply for the Housing Support Fund. We also recommend that they visit the ‘Help for Households’ webpage on GOV.UK to view what other support they may be eligible to receive - https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/.

The Government has been in contact with representatives of itinerant travellers to understand their concerns and seek to overcome barriers to accessing the EBSS Alternative Funding. We have been unable to establish a robust method for households in caravans not on permanent sites to prove that their caravan is their main or sole residence, whilst protecting public funds against fraud. We recommend that these households should contact their local authority to apply for the Housing Support Fund and also visit the ‘Help for Households’ webpage on GOV.UK to view what other support they may be eligible to receive - https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/.

The Warm Home Discount prioritises people who are most at risk of being in fuel poverty. Fuel poverty is a combination of low incomes and high energy costs, so the scheme is targeted at those on means tested benefits whose homes are expensive to heat. Women on maternity leave do not automatically fall into that category.

The proportion of officials in Department for Science, Innovation and Technology that are graded as senior civil servant 2 is 1.4%.

The proportion of officials that are women, on a full-time equivalent basis is 52.5%.

The proportion of officials in Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on temporary contracts that are women is 50%.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is committed to closing the digital divide and meeting the government’s commitment that nobody should be left behind in the digital age. Reflecting the four key pillars set out in the government’s Digital Inclusion Strategy, we recognise that access to safe and suitable devices remains a key barrier facing digitally excluded people. Device donation initiatives are a significant and valuable contribution to supporting people to overcome this obstacle and I would encourage all private and public sector organisations to consider the feasibility of doing this.

The Department has noted this particular recommendation in the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee’s report on digital exclusion and cost of living and will formally respond later this month.

Digital Skills

The Government recognises that digital skills are becoming ever more important in the economy. Last year, we launched the UK Digital Strategy, which set out our commitment to develop digital skills across the whole of the UK.

To grow the digital workforce in the UK, the government has introduced a range of interventions across the digital skills pipeline and at all levels. This includes ensuring there is a range of flexible courses available for people already in the workforce. As part of Skills for Life, the government launched Skills Bootcamps, which offer free, flexible courses lasting up to 16 weeks, with a guaranteed job interview at the end. The Department for Education is increasing investment to up to £150 million this year.

To provide people with the opportunity to develop specialised AI and data skills, even for those who have no previous experience, the government has made a £30 million investment via two phases in AI and Data science conversion courses. The government is committed to ensuring the tech sector is diverse, which is why the government has funded scholarships for underrepresented groups to earn a masters degree on these courses, and has supported the Tech Talent Charter (TCC) since 2017.

Digital Inclusion

The government is committed to closing the digital divide and meeting our commitment that nobody should be left behind in the digital age. This directly supports the UK’s Digital Strategy and its “vision to enable everyone, from every industry and across the UK, to benefit from all that digital innovation can offer.”

Supporting people to engage in an increasingly digitalised world involves overcoming the barriers to access, skills, motivation and trust identified in the government’s digital inclusion strategy. A range of departments support the government’s approach to removing these barriers.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is tackling these issues by continuing to invest in digital infrastructure to broaden gigabit-capable and mobile-network coverage. To support low income households stay connected, the Government continues to work with telecoms providers to ensure market provision of low-cost broadband and mobile tariffs.

The Department for Education are providing access to essential digital skills courses through the Essential Digital Entitlement and the Adult Education budget. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport are leveraging our national network of libraries to serve as an alternative point of internet access with in-person support. Department for Work and Pensions are referring claimants to essential digital skills courses to improve their chances of securing employment and supporting eligible claimants with the provision of devices and connectivity connection. Cabinet Office is setting an example by monitoring the accessibility of all public sector websites to make sure that everyone, including people with disabilities and impairments, can access public services.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is committed to closing the digital divide and meeting the government’s commitment that nobody should be left behind in the digital age. The 2014 Digital Inclusion Strategy, and the four pillars it sets out, remains as relevant today as it was when published. These principles were further echoed in the Government’s UK Digital Strategy published in 2022, and our vision to enable everyone from across the UK to benefit from all that digital innovation can offer.

The Department has noted this recommendation in the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee’s report on digital exclusion and cost of living and will formally respond this month.

The Government recognises the importance of scale-up finance for breakthrough technology firms. Since launch in 2018, British Patient Capital (BPC) has committed more than £1.6bn into innovative later stage firms, with a further £9.1bn invested alongside it by private investors.

Future Fund: Breakthrough, launched by BPC in 2021, is a £375m programme enabling direct co-investment into promising later stage R&D-intensive UK businesses. The programme has made twelve investments totalling over £80m, including six investments into deeptech companies, making BPC the UK’s most active late-stage investor in deeptech in rounds above £30m. BPC recently invested £10m in Cambridge-based manufacturer PragmatIC Semiconductor.

The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) closed for new applications on 31 May 2022 and saw 97,846 loans approved worth £25.86 billion. The scheme was open to sole traders, provided they satisfied the scheme’s eligibility criteria.

In total, 97,846 facilities were drawn down by businesses under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), totalling £25.86 billion.

As of 31 March 2022, 1,858 facilities (0.19%) had been subject to a default, meaning that the lender had issued a formal demand to the borrower.

BEIS has not made an estimate of the number of businesses that took out loans through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme that have since ceased trading. This will be considered as part of the scheme's ongoing evaluation, which will consider the impact of CBILS on business survival.

In total, 97,846 facilities were drawn down by businesses under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), totalling £25.86 billion.

As of 31 March 2022, 1,858 facilities (0.19%) had been subject to a default, meaning that the lender had issued a formal demand to the borrower.

BEIS has not made an estimate of the number of businesses that took out loans through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme that have since ceased trading. This will be considered as part of the scheme's ongoing evaluation, which will consider the impact of CBILS on business survival.

The Government is very aware of the difficulties that consumers are experiencing as a result of higher energy prices. This is why we are giving a package of support worth £9.1 billion, which will help over 28 million households.