Lucy Powell

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) data is regularly published on Open Data Communities, and this includes data on the type of heating installed, including for new builds. The latest ONS data release on energy efficiency of housing in England and Wales 2021 also provides some information on this topic and can be found here.

The Government remains committed to meeting its target of net zero emissions by 2050 and recognises the important contribution that the way we heat our homes has to meeting it. We will need to move away from fossil fuel heating in order to meet our commitment.

Later this year we will introduce an interim uplift in building standards that delivers a meaningful reduction in carbon emissions and provide a stepping stone to the Future Homes Standard in 2025. Once the uplift comes into force, new homes will be expected to produce 31% less CO₂ emissions compared to current standards. This will deliver high-quality homes that are in line with our broader housing commitments and encourage homes that are future-proofed for the longer-term.

We know that moving people away from the streets, and preventing rough sleeping in the first instance benefits people's lives and saves public money in the long-term. By the end of January 2021, over 37,000 people have been helped, including over 26,000 helped into longer-term accommodation.

Regarding the 27 homes in relation to which Homes England received less than the equity loan originally lent, Homes England responded to a more recent Request for Information (dated 10 Sept 21) in which 36 schemes were identified. On these 36 schemes, Homes England calculate the mean and median to be:

Mean: £13,234

Median: £6,500

Information on the number of Help to Buy equity loan properties with unsafe ACM cladding can be found in the National Audit Office's report entitled Investigation into remediating dangerous cladding on high-rise buildings, which is available at: https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Investigation-into-remediating-dangerous-cladding-on-high-rise-buildings.pdf.

The Building Safety Bill requires Accountable Persons to provide residents of high-rise buildings with information about safety measures in their building. This includes fire safety information that will include the risks to residents identified by the fire risk assessment and the preventative and protective measures in place. Residents will be able to request further safety information from the Accountable Person.

As building owners, housing associations will need to identify an Accountable Person and provide relevant safety information. Residents will be able to request further safety information from the Accountable Person.

The Government believes very strongly that service charges should be transparent and communicated effectively. All service charges must be set in line with the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, with service charges payable only when the costs are reasonable. The law is clear that service charges and any increase in costs must be reasonable and, where costs relate to work or services, the work or services must be of a reasonable standard. This applies equally to social housing tenants.

The Government's policy statement on rents for social housing (published in February 2019) encourages registered providers of social housing to keep increases for services charges within CPI+1% per annum, to help keep charges affordable.

We also believe that there should be a clear route to challenge or redress if things go wrong. Both leaseholders and social housing tenants have the ability to apply to the Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal for a determination where they do not believe the charges are reasonable, and must be consulted when major works are being proposed.

Information on the number of properties bought with a Help to Buy Equity Loan and the total value of these loans is published regularly through the Help to Buy Quarterly statistical release, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/help-to-buy-equity-loan-scheme-data-to-31-march-2021/help-to-buy-equity-loan-scheme-data-to-31-march-2021

Help to Buy repayment statistics can be found on page 52 of Homes England's annual report and financial statements, available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1004648/Homes_England_Annual_Report_and_Financial_Statements_2020_21_web-optimised.pdf.

Information on the number of Help to Buy equity loan properties with ACM cladding can be found in the NAO's report entitled Investigation into remediating dangerous cladding on high-rise buildings, which is available at: https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Investigation-into-remediating-dangerous-cladding-on-high-rise-buildings.pdf

The Government announced a £65 million top up to the Homelessness Prevention Grant in October to help vulnerable renters hit hardest by the pandemic from becoming homeless. The primary purpose of this exceptional one-off payment is to support low-income private renters with COVID-19 related rent arrears either by preventing eviction or by helping them to find a new home.

As with the existing Homelessness Prevention Grant, local authorities have flexibility to use this funding to meet this objective in the most appropriate way to meet local pressures. We are encouraging local authorities to use this money to support renters in the private rented sector; however Homelessness Prevention Grant funding can also be used to prevent homelessness from the social rented sector.

This funding is available for those eligible for statutory homelessness assistance and is not available for renters with no recourse to public funds. Whilst we recognise that supporting individuals with restricted eligibility can be challenging, local authorities must continue to use their judgement in assessing what support they may lawfully give to each person on an individual basis, considering that person's specific circumstances and support needs.

The Government announced a £65 million top up to the Homelessness Prevention Grant in October to help vulnerable renters hit hardest by the pandemic from becoming homeless. The primary purpose of this exceptional one-off payment is to support low-income private renters with COVID-19 related rent arrears either by preventing eviction or by helping them to find a new home.

As with the existing Homelessness Prevention Grant, local authorities have flexibility to use this funding to meet this objective in the most appropriate way to meet local pressures. We are encouraging local authorities to use this money to support renters in the private rented sector; however Homelessness Prevention Grant funding can also be used to prevent homelessness from the social rented sector.

This funding is available for those eligible for statutory homelessness assistance and is not available for renters with no recourse to public funds. Whilst we recognise that supporting individuals with restricted eligibility can be challenging, local authorities must continue to use their judgement in assessing what support they may lawfully give to each person on an individual basis, considering that person's specific circumstances and support needs.

The Government announced a £65 million top up to the Homelessness Prevention Grant in October to help vulnerable renters hit hardest by the pandemic from becoming homeless. The primary purpose of this exceptional one-off payment is to support low-income private renters with COVID-19 related rent arrears either by preventing eviction or by helping them to find a new home.

As with the existing Homelessness Prevention Grant, local authorities have flexibility to use this funding to meet this objective in the most appropriate way to meet local pressures. We are encouraging local authorities to use this money to support renters in the private rented sector; however Homelessness Prevention Grant funding can also be used to prevent homelessness from the social rented sector.

This funding is available for those eligible for statutory homelessness assistance and is not available for renters with no recourse to public funds. Whilst we recognise that supporting individuals with restricted eligibility can be challenging, local authorities must continue to use their judgement in assessing what support they may lawfully give to each person on an individual basis, considering that person's specific circumstances and support needs.

At the Spending Review, the Government announced nearly £24 billion for housing between 2022-23 and 2025-26. This included £17.7 billion for housing supply programmes, £3 billion for home ownership and £3 billion for building safety. This funding demonstrates the Government’s continued commitment to investing in safe and affordable housing, delivering the homes the country needs.

The causes of homelessness are complex and it is driven by a range of factors, both personal and structural.

In April 2020 we boosted investment in Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates by nearly £1 billion providing 1.5 million claimants of Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit with around £600 more housing support in 2020/21 than they would otherwise have received. In 2021/22 we have maintained LHA rates at the same cash level.

As set out at the Autumn Budget, the forecast default is that LHA rates for 2022-23 will be maintained at the elevated cash rates agreed for 2020/21. This will be confirmed at the benefits uprating review.

For those who require additional support Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) are available.    Since 2011 we have provided over £1 billion in DHPs to local authorities to support households with their housing costs.

The Government has also announced an additional £65 million this year to help those with rent arrears who may be at risk of homelessness. This means the Government is spending more than £800 million this year alone on tackling homelessness and rough sleeping.

In March 2021, the Government announced a package of flexibilities to how local authorities can spend their Right to Buy receipts including allowing replacements to be delivered as Shared Ownership or First Homes. This will help local authorities to build the types of home that they think are most needed in their communities. As part of these reforms, information ​will be collected from local authorities on whether Right to Buy replacements are delivered as Affordable Rent, Social Rent, First Homes or Shared Ownership. This information will be published as official statistics annually from Summer 2022.

The Government is committed to building the homes this country needs. This will help to get more people on the housing ladder, support local economic growth, and create stronger and more sustainable communities.

We are making strong progress towards delivering our ambition to build 300,000 homes a year, and to build 1 million homes over the course of this parliament. From April 2019 to March 2020 around 244,000 homes were delivered - the highest level for over 30 years and the seventh consecutive year that net supply has increased.

COVID 19 stoppages inevitably had an impact on housebuilding, but government took swift action to support the sector through this period, including a stamp duty land tax holiday and issuing developers with guidelines on operating in an effective and safe manner. Housing completions have started to rebound; ONS figures show that the first two quarters of 2021 saw completions 67% higher than in the same period of 2020.

Given the large variation in land values within the country and within regions, we do not publish national or regional average land values estimates. However, we do publish land value estimates at local authority level for residential and industrial land and at local enterprise partnership (LEP) level for agricultural and commercial office land.

As set out in my response to Question UIN 58403, the latest published land value estimates for all of the required typologies are published at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/land-value-estimates-for-policy-appraisal-2019.

The latest estimates of land values published by the department and produced for it by the Valuation Office Agency can be found here; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/land-value-estimates-for-policy-appraisal-2019 .

The latest estimates of land values published by the department and produced for it by the Valuation Office Agency can be found here; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/land-value-estimates-for-policy-appraisal-2019 .

The latest estimates of land values published by the department and produced for it by the Valuation Office Agency can be found here; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/land-value-estimates-for-policy-appraisal-2019 .

The latest estimates of land values published by the department and produced for it by the Valuation Office Agency can be found here; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/land-value-estimates-for-policy-appraisal-2019 .

Work is underway to collect data on a sample of 11-18 metres residential buildings in England. The information collected will include the existing building condition including the materials in use on the external wall system, and the costs of making the building safe. We will publish further details shortly.

The Department is using information on eligible businesses, held by the Valuation Office Agency, to help determine the level of support each Local Authority requires.

We expect that over 680,000 businesses will benefit from the new £5bn Restart Grant scheme, and in the coming weeks we will be communicating the level of funding each Local Authority will receive, including publishing on GOV.UK.

The Department is using information on eligible businesses, held by the Valuation Office Agency, to help determine the level of support each Local Authority requires.

We expect that over 680,000 businesses will benefit from the new £5bn Restart Grant scheme, and in the coming weeks we will be communicating the level of funding each Local Authority will receive, including publishing on GOV.UK.

The Government is committed to protecting consumers from unfair behaviours. The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs) prohibits fake and misleading reviews online. Alleged breaches of the CPRs should be sent in the first instance to the Citizens Advice consumer service, www.citizensadvice.org.uk/, who will refer on cases to trading standards for appropriate enforcement action.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has issued guidance to consumers on avoiding fake reviews which can be found at: https://www.asa.org.uk/news/avoiding-fake-views-a-guide-to-testimonials-and-endorsements.html.

Furthermore, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened an investigation into online reviews displayed on several major websites in May 2020. The CMA will investigate, among other things, whether the traders responsible for the websites are taking sufficient measures to remove fake and misleading reviews. Details can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/online-reviews.

The Government is committed to ensuring digital markets remain competitive and deliver positive outcomes for consumers, small businesses, and society. That is why we have announced funding to establish a new Digital Markets Unit within the Competition and Markets Authority from 2021-22. We set up the Digital Markets Taskforce in March to offer expert advice.

The Government is now considering the Taskforce’s recommendations and will respond in due course.

The Government is committed to ensuring digital markets remain competitive and deliver positive outcomes for consumers, small businesses, and society. That is why we have announced funding to establish a new Digital Markets Unit within the Competition and Markets Authority from 2021-22. We set up the Digital Markets Taskforce in March to offer expert advice.

The Government is now considering the Taskforce’s recommendations and will respond in due course.

The Government is currently consulting on its proposed approach for establishing a bespoke UK-wide subsidy control regime. The Government is keeping under close review the impact of subsidy control rules on the ability of businesses to access grants and will publish new guidance as and when circumstances require it.

The EU State Aid rules and limits no longer apply in the UK, except in respect of aid in scope of the Northern Ireland Protocol and Article 138 in relation to aid for EU programmes and activities within the Multiannual Financial Framework. Subsidies must instead meet the terms of the EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement as well as the other Free Trade Agreements we have reached with the rest of the world and our WTO commitments.

Existing guidance for Covid-19 Business Support grants references pre-existing EU State Aid limits. A policy decision has been taken to retain the previous limits allowed under the EU State aid regime to ensure continuity for beneficiaries.

The Department is consulting on a new approach to subsidy control that will best reflect the needs of the UK economy. Since 1 January 2021, the subsidy control regime with which public authorities need to comply is defined by our international commitments, including World Trade Organisation rules on subsidies, the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation agreement (TCA),Article 10 of the Northern Ireland Protocol, and other obligations resulting from other international trade agreements.

Details on these commitments, with a particular focus on granting authorities, was published by the Department on 31 December 2020 and is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/complying-with-the-uks-international-obligations-on-subsidy-control-guidance-for-public-authorities.

The guidance relating to grant support for businesses required by law to close states that these grants count towards applicable subsidy control limits, including that which limits support to €3 million per undertaking under Section 3.12 of the Temporary Framework.

EU State aid rules no longer apply to subsidies granted from 1st January 2021 in the UK. The only exception is aid within scope of the Withdrawal Agreement, specifically Article 10 of the Northern Ireland Protocol which applies to measures affecting trade in goods and wholesale electricity markets between Northern Ireland and the EU, and Article 138 in relation to aid for EU programmes and activities within the Multiannual Financial Framework.

The Government has put forward an unprecedented package of support for businesses in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19. This support includes the Christmas Support Payment for wet-led pubs who missed out on much needed business during the busy festive period. Grants were made available to eligible pubs upon entry to Tier 2 or Tier 3 restrictions following the scheduled Tier review dates of 2 December and 16 December, and to those that entered Tier 4 between 2 and 29 December if they had not already qualified for the grant.

On 24 February, we published data relating to allocations and grant payments made by Local Authorities to businesses up to 17 January 2021. This includes the Christmas Support Payment: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-grant-funding-local-authority-payments-to-small-and-medium-businesses.

The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) is a discretionary scheme aimed at supporting businesses, including those that have not been mandated to close but have had their trade adversely affected by the nationalised restrictions. Local Authorities have been allocated a further £500m in discretionary funding via the ARG, in addition to £1.1bn already allocated in November 2020. Local Authorities can use the ARG to support businesses in their local area, as they see fit. We expect Local Authorities to use this additional resource quickly to support businesses in their area.

This data relates to allocations and grant payments made by Local Authorities to businesses up to 17 January 2021: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-grant-funding-local-authority-payments-to-small-and-medium-businesses.

My Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 5 January a further package of support for businesses that are required to close, or which are severely affected by the restrictions put in place to tackle Covid-19 and save lives. Business that are mandated to close may be eligible for grants of up to £4,500 for every six weeks of closure through the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) Addendum: 5 January onwards. The Closed Business Lockdown Payment (CBLP) is a one-off payment of up to £9,000 to support business during the difficult Spring period. In order to make administration simpler for Local Authorities, the CBLP has been paid to eligible businesses, together with the LRSG, in one single payment.

We have not yet published data on the CBLP. Yesterday, we published data relating to allocations and grant payments made by Local Authorities to businesses up to 17 January 2021: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-grant-funding-local-authority-payments-to-small-and-medium-businesses.

The Government covers interest payments on behalf of borrowers for the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) for the first 12 months after drawdown of a facility. For CBILS, interest rates and fees will vary between banks and will depend on the specific lending proposal. The interest rate for Bounce Back loans is set at 2.5%.

As of 28 January 2021, the total value of interest payments made for both schemes is as follows:

• Total amount recorded for interest paid to Banks under BBLS: £193,269,778
• Total amount recorded for interest paid to Banks under CBILS: £81,991,145

For CBILS, the Government also covers arrangement fees on behalf of borrowers.

As of 28 January 2021, the total amount recorded for arrangement fees paid to banks is £24,256,440.

Banks are not permitted to charge any fees for administering BBLS.

The Government has put forward an unprecedented package of support for businesses in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19. This support includes the Christmas Support Payment for wet-led pubs who missed out on much needed business during the busy festive period. Pubs in scope of this scheme will need to provide evidence that they derive more than 50% of their income from drink sales. Grants were made available to eligible pubs upon entry to Tier 2 or Tier 3 restrictions following the scheduled Tier review dates of 2 December and 16 December, and to those that entered Tier 4 between 2 and 29 December if they had not already qualified for the grant.

We worked closely with Local Authorities to calculate the amount of funding required for this scheme, using business rates data and local business information. We continue to work closely with Local Authorities to ensure that funding is delivered to pubs that are in scope of this scheme as quickly as possible.

Local Authorities have discretion to use the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) to support businesses in the way that best fits their local area.  Eligibility for the ARG is set locally and guidance makes clear that Local Authorities may use this funding for grants or for other related business support as they see fit. The number of businesses that are eligible in each area is determined by individual Local Authorities.

The Government has put forward an unprecedented package of support to help businesses which are severely affected by restrictions put in place to tackle Covid-19 and save lives. This package of support includes the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) which was announced in November 2020 to provide discretionary business grants and wider business support in England. An initial £1.1 billion was allocated to Local Authorities under this scheme in November, and a further £500 million of top-up ARG funding was announced at the start of the third lockdown period in January.

This funding is shared between all Local Authorities in England and they have the discretion to use the ARG scheme to help businesses in the way they see fit. We are working closely with Local Authorities to ensure that support is delivered to businesses that are in scope as quickly as possible.

On 5 January 2021, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced one-off top-up grants, worth up to £9,000 per property, to help retail, hospitality and leisure businesses affected by the new closures through to Spring.

We have worked with Local Authorities to best calculate the amount of funding required, using business rates data and local business information. We are working with places to ensure that funding reaches businesses that are in scope as quickly as possible.

The table below sets out the volume of proposed redundancies indicated on HR1 forms received between January 2019 and December 2020:

Employers are only required to file a Form HR1 where they are “proposing” to dismiss 20 or more employees at a single “establishment”.

“Propose” and “establishment” have distinct meanings in this context.

The aggregate number could include proposed dismissals due to insolvency, restructuring of a solvent/continuing business, or proposed relocation of employees, for example.

It should be noted that a proposal to make a given number of dismissals does not necessarily result in all or any of the proposed dismissals occurring.

The Government has put forward an unprecedented package of support to help businesses which are severely affected by restrictions put in place to tackle Covid-19 and save lives. This package of support includes the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) which was announced in November 2020 to provide discretionary business grants and wider business support in England. An initial £1.1 billion was allocated to Local Authorities under this scheme in November, and a further £500 million of top-up ARG funding was announced at the start of the third lockdown period in January.

This funding is shared between all Local Authorities in England and we are working closely with Local Authorities to ensure that support is delivered to businesses that are in scope as quickly as possible.

The Government has put forward an unprecedented package of support to help businesses which are severely affected by restrictions put in place to tackle Covid-19 and save lives. This package of support includes the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) which was announced in November 2020 to provide discretionary business grants and wider business support in England. An initial £1.1 billion was allocated to Local Authorities under this scheme in November, and a further £500 million of top-up ARG funding was announced at the start of the third lockdown period in January 2021.

This support is available through all Local Authorities in England and they have the discretion to use this funding to help businesses in the way they see fit. We are working closely with Local Authorities to ensure that funding is delivered to businesses that are in scope as quickly as possible.

On 5 January 2021, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced one-off top-up grants, worth up to £9,000 per property, to help retail, hospitality and leisure businesses affected by the new closures through to Spring. This is in addition to the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG), announced in November 2020 and which received a £500 million top-up in January 2021 to support other businesses affected by the new lockdown rules.

We have worked with Local Authorities to best calculate the amount of funding required, using business rates data and local business information, and are working with places to ensure that funding reaches businesses that are in scope as quickly as possible.

The industry led Retail Sector Council, which I co-chair, meets three to four times per year. The Council has met three times in 2020, with the next meeting due to take place on Thursday 3^rd December 2020. Priority workstreams have been selected and agreed by industry and work is advancing. Minutes are published by the Secretariat on the Council’s website: https://retailsectorcouncil.co.uk/retail-sector-council.

BEIS Ministers meet regularly with a wide range of stakeholders from the hospitality sector. I also chair a weekly hospitality round table with senior representatives of the sector.

The Hospitality Futures Group was established by leaders from within the hospitality industry to provide a forum for discussion on possible ways to support the recovery of the sector following the COVID-19 pandemic. The Group has met weekly since June 2020 and engages with a small number of Government officials.

Employers are required to file a form HR1 where they are proposing to dismiss 20 or more employees at a single establishment. HR1 forms received by Redundancy Payments Service during October 2020 indicated 51,195 proposed redundancies.

The aggregate number may include proposed dismissals due to insolvency, restructuring of a solvent/continuing business, changes to terms and conditions, or proposed relocation of employees, for example. It should also be noted that a proposal to make a given number of dismissals does not necessarily result in all or any of the proposed dismissals occurring.

With the implementation of national restrictions, the Additional Restrictions Grant has been allocated across England at £20 per head of residential population. Areas that went into the Local Covid Alert Level at ‘Very High’, prior to national restrictions, received aggregate sums at city region level. These sumsvary slightly from the Additional Restrictions Grant and where this was under the £20 per head rate, we have topped up the funding. For example, in Liverpool City Region, funding was increased from £30 million to £31.2 million.

Local authority allocations are set out below. Where local authorities show as £0 it is because local authorities have agreed for their allocation to be paid to their Combined Authority. Combined Authority allocations are shown at the bottom of the table. Nine Greater Manchester Local Authorities have agreed for their share of £60million funding to be pooled, with Bolton Council receiving its proportionate share separately.

Government has published details of guidance which sets out the restrictions that certain businesses and venues in England will be required to follow from 5 November, so that businesses can assess whether they can remain open having considered the guidance and Regulations.

All shops can continue to offer home delivery and click and collect services to customers?during the national restrictions in place from 5 November.

The Local Restrictions Support Grant is in place to support businesses that are legally required to close in Very High Covid-19 Local Alert Level places.

Additional funding has been made available to all areas moving to Very High Alert Level in the form of a one-off grant allocation to allow enhanced business support, including £60m for Greater Manchester. This can be used by these areas to establish a local discretionary grant scheme that could provide grants to business that whilst not required to close are nonetheless severely impacted. It will be for local partners to agree the priorities and levels of grant awards to be provided.

The Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) announced on 9 September provides support to businesses affected by localised restrictions to control Covid-19. Eligible businesses in very high local Covid alert level areas will receive grants of up to £3,000 per month.

We are working with impacted local authorities to ensure they receive the enhanced business support they need, and that support goes to as many businesses in scope of the LRSG scheme as possible. In Bolton, for example, we have worked closely with the Council to best calculate the amount of funding required, using business rates data and local business information.

The wrongful trading provisions were temporarily suspended in March at the height of the pandemic when many businesses across the country were required to close. The temporary suspension gave company directors the confidence to continue trading while considering their options, giving them time to access the financial support introduced by Government. It was further extended in May to 30 June, and then again to 30 September, during the passage of the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 in Parliament.

Since the suspension was first introduced businesses have received billions in loans, tax deferrals, Business Rate reliefs, and general and sector-specific grants to support them and help save jobs, and the Government’s recently launched Winter Economy Plan has a further package of targeted measures to continue that support.

In addition, a range of temporary measures to protect businesses from insolvency have been further extended.

The wrongful trading provisions are an important protection for creditors against insolvent trading but were suspended at the peak of lockdown to support directors to continue to trade whilst accessing the financial support put in place by Government.

Since the suspension was first introduced a range of measures have been brought in by the Government to provide support for business and save jobs across all sectors of the economy. In addition, a range of temporary measures to protect businesses in all sectors from insolvency have been further extended.

The Government engaged with a number of stakeholders in considering the extension of all the temporary provisions in the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020. The further extension of measures to protect businesses from insolvency and the additional financial support introduced by Government will continue to protect jobs and help businesses through the months ahead.

The Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) announced on 9 September provides support to businesses closed as part of localised restrictions to control Covid-19. Grants of up to £1,500 every three weeks will be available where businesses are required to close and funding will be issued upon confirmation of a three-week closure period.

We have worked closely with Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council to best calculate the amount of funding required, using business rates data and local business information. The situation is evolving and we continue to monitor Bolton’s LRSG allocation.

The Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF), the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund (RHLGF) and the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund (LADGF) were part of this government’s unprecedented package of support for business in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19. We published a full breakdown of SBGF and RHLGF grants distributed by each local authority following the schemes’ closure: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-grant-funding-local-authority-payments-to-small-and-medium-businesses We will publish further information on the number and value of grant payments made by local authority under the schemes in due course.

The Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) announced on 9 September provides support to businesses closed as part of localised restrictions to control Covid-19. The scheme provides businesses in the rating system with grants of either £1,000 or £1,500 and provides the local authority with an additional 5% top-up to support businesses not in the rating system and to meet other prioritised, severely impacted businesses.

We worked closely with Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council to best calculate the amount of funding required and will continue to monitor Bolton’s LRSG allocation.

Local authorities have now closed their Business Grant Funds and are in the process of making final payments to businesses. These must be complete by 30 September. The reconciliation process will then take place from October.

Local authorities have now closed their Business Grant Funds and are in the process of making final payments to businesses. These must be complete by 30 September.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave my Hon. Friend the Member for Filton and Bradley Stoke on 13 July 2020 to Question 71029.

The Government recognises the value of British engineering capability and innovation. That is why we have already invested nearly £2 billion in the Aerospace Technology Institute Programme, providing advice on market opportunities and technology. We have also committed with industry around £1 billion through the Advanced Propulsion Centre, to research, develop, and commercialise the next generation of low carbon technologies to keep the UK at the cutting edge of low carbon automotive innovations. We are also supporting the innovation of digital design through the £147 million Manufacturing Made Smarter Challenge.

At the last Budget, we set out plans for public investment in research and development to reach £22 billion?each year?by 2024/25, which is a record increase in spending.

As part of the upcoming Spending Review we will consider proposals for this investment, of which the Brunel Challenge and slingshot is one of many.

On 1 May, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary?of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy announced a further up to £617 million available to local authorities in England to support small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs that are not liable for business rates or rates reliefs, and are therefore out of scope of the Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF) and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund (RHLGF). Local authorities are responsible for defining precise eligibility for the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund (LADGF) in their area, subject to businesses meeting the national eligibility criteria as set out in the guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-grant-funding-local-authority-payments-to-small-and-medium-businesses.

Local authorities have started making payments under the new scheme and, as with the SBGF and RHLGF, we will expect them to report to government on their Discretionary Grants Fund payments on a weekly basis. We are not, however, able to share data on the number of businesses that have applied for or received LADGF grant payments at this stage.

On 1 May, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary?of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy announced a further up to £617 million available to local authorities in England to support small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs that are not liable for business rates or rates reliefs, and are therefore out of scope of the Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF) and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund (RHLGF). Local authorities are responsible for defining precise eligibility for the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund (LADGF) in their area, subject to businesses meeting the national eligibility criteria as set out in the guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-grant-funding-local-authority-payments-to-small-and-medium-businesses.

Local authorities have started making payments under the new scheme and, as with the SBGF and RHLGF, we will expect them to report to government on their Discretionary Grants Fund payments on a weekly basis. We are not, however, able to share data on the number of businesses in each local authority that have applied for or received LADGF grant payments at this stage.

On 1 May, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary?of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy announced a further up to £617 million available to local authorities in England to support small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs that are not liable for business rates or rates reliefs, and are therefore out of scope of the Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF) and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund (RHLGF).

As set out in the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund (LADGF) guidance, a local authority’s funding allocation equates to 5% of the value of the hereditaments they have identified as in scope of the SBGF and RHLGF in their area. Full details of this can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-grant-funding-local-authority-payments-to-small-and-medium-businesses.

Local authorities have started making payments under the new scheme and, as with the SBGF and RHLGF, we will expect them to report to government on their Discretionary Grants Fund payments on a weekly basis. We are not, however, able to share a full breakdown of the funding allocated and distributed by each local authority under the LADGF at this stage.

As you are aware, five new ministerial-led taskforces have been set up to develop plans for how and when closed sectors can reopen safely, following publication of the UK’s roadmap to rebuild Britain.

As part of this science-led approach, each taskforce will work across Government and engage with key stakeholders in public health, industry, trade unions and devolved administrations to:

• ensure that COVID-19 secure guidelines are developed in line with the phased approach and public health directions, building on the existing guidance and providing intelligence and sector-specific expert input;
• agree and ensure alignment of all relevant sectoral guidance, and;
• provide key sector stakeholders direct access to Ministers to shape the guidance.

Details on the structure and scope of the taskforces is currently being drawn up and will be provided in due course.

The Cross-Whitehall Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU) was established on 5 March 2020, bringing together cross-government monitoring and analysis capabilities. As of 7 January 2022 the CDU is still fully operational.

Addressing the challenges of disinformation and misinformation is a whole of the government effort. The CDU is resourced full time and works in close partnership with cross-government teams. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the size of the team in DCMS has increased. Requirements are continually reviewed to ensure appropriate levels of resourcing, including surge capacity as needed.

When false narratives are identified, the CDU coordinates departments across Whitehall to deploy the appropriate response. This can include a direct rebuttal on social media, flagging content to platforms and ensuring public health campaigns are promoted through reliable sources.

The Cross-Whitehall Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU) was established on 5 March 2020, bringing together cross-government monitoring and analysis capabilities. As of 7 January 2022 the CDU is still fully operational.

Addressing the challenges of disinformation and misinformation is a whole of the government effort. The CDU is resourced full time and works in close partnership with cross-government teams. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the size of the team in DCMS has increased. Requirements are continually reviewed to ensure appropriate levels of resourcing, including surge capacity as needed.

When false narratives are identified, the CDU coordinates departments across Whitehall to deploy the appropriate response. This can include a direct rebuttal on social media, flagging content to platforms and ensuring public health campaigns are promoted through reliable sources.

The Cross-Whitehall Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU) was established on 5 March 2020, bringing together cross-government monitoring and analysis capabilities. As of 7 January 2022 the CDU is still fully operational.

Addressing the challenges of disinformation and misinformation is a whole of the government effort. The CDU is resourced full time and works in close partnership with cross-government teams. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the size of the team in DCMS has increased. Requirements are continually reviewed to ensure appropriate levels of resourcing, including surge capacity as needed.

When false narratives are identified, the CDU coordinates departments across Whitehall to deploy the appropriate response. This can include a direct rebuttal on social media, flagging content to platforms and ensuring public health campaigns are promoted through reliable sources.

Ministers’ official meetings with external organisations are published each quarter on gov.uk, these can be found here.

The Secretary of State issues policy directions to The National Lottery Community Fund for the English portion of dormant assets funds. These directions are high-level and do not go into granular detail over, for example, specific regions where the money should be spent.

Currently, funding in England is distributed to four specialist organisations, independent from government, that work across the areas of youth, financial inclusion, and social investment. To date, over £650 million has been allocated between them: Youth Futures Foundation has been allocated £90 million, Fair4All Finance £96 million, Big Society Capital £425 million, and Access – The Foundation for Social Investment £40 million.

These organisations are responsible for determining the most appropriate way to deliver against their objectives. This includes the evidence-based geographical distribution of their work, and the collation of any associated data.

The Government recognises the important contribution that the Live Events sector makes to the UK’s culture and economy, and the significant challenges the Covid-19 pandemic has presented. The Live Events Reinsurance Scheme is designed to provide confidence to event organisers and enable them to plan future events, thereby supporting the economic recovery out of Covid-19.

The scheme is a reinsurance scheme whereby insurers provide cover to purchasers, and eligible policies are then reinsured under a reinsurance contract with the government - the terms of which are publicly available. As such the government does not receive applications to the scheme: policies are either eligible or ineligible.

The Government is working with the steel industry, the unions and devolved administrations to support the UK steel sector to develop a long-term sustainable future. This includes making sure that UK producers of steel have the best possible chance of competing for and winning contracts across all Government procurement.

BEIS collates and publishes annually information on how much steel is purchased for Government’s major infrastructure projects in the previous financial year, including what proportion is UK-produced.

We have collated the 2019/20 data and expect to publish later this year. We will start collating the data on UK steel procured in 2020/21 in due course.