Post Brexit: Small Service Businesses

Lord Aberdare Excerpts

Monday 24th May 2021 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord Aberdare]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union on small service businesses dependent on mobility between the United Kingdom and the European Union; and what support they have offered to such businesses to preserve their incomes and jobs.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Lord Callanan) (Con)]

My Lords, the Government are committed to supporting SME owners from all parts of the UK. My colleague, Minister Scully, recently formed an SME action group, which meets regularly to discuss key issues. The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement supports small services businesses, ensuring that many business visitors can stay in the EU for 90 days of any six-month period without requiring a work permit. BEIS is currently expanding GOV.UK guidance on member states’ immigration systems.

[Lord Aberdare (CB)]

My Lords, numerous small UK providers of cross-border services, based in the EU, EFTA and the UK, have found their businesses under existential threat following Brexit, including IT consultants, translators, exhibition organisers, tradespeople, sailing-holiday providers, ski instructors, journalists, artists and, of course, musicians, to name just a few. They find it hard to get clarity on the rules now governing their activities or on where to get help to resolve issues. What guidance can the Minister offer to such service providers to help them find ways of saving their businesses and their livelihoods, and will the Government consider setting up something similar to the EU’s Your Europe Advice and SOLVIT services to support them?

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

The noble Lord makes a good point. This is a complicated area. We are upgrading existing GOV.UK guidance on the immigration systems of EU and EFTA member states to help businesses adjust to the new requirements. The first tranche of these guides is available now, and from 1 January 2021, for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, UK nationals will not need a visa when travelling to and within the Schengen area to undertake a limited range of activities.