Business of the House

Pauline Latham Excerpts

Thursday 25th March 2021 Commons Chamber

[Mr Rees-Mogg]

I have visited the hon. Lady’s constituency and know what an attractive place it is, and it deserves to remain attractive. This always leads to arguments over planning, but the planning system is fundamentally a local one, with local councils having the majority say in planning developments. I suggest that, initially, this is taken up with the local council. It is only at the stage when things are called in to national Government that they become a matter for central Government.

[Mrs Pauline Latham (Mid Derbyshire) (Con)]

Easter is a time for love, but there is not going to be much love this Easter because very few people will be able to get married. It is a traditional time for marriage. This continues to be a very difficult situation for the wedding industry, which is mainly run by women, and I hope that the Government have not forgotten women’s industries and businesses. Pubs and sporting venues will be allowed to open, but it is a very difficult situation for the wedding industry. Brides have not been able to buy their dresses for nearly a year. The wedding industry contributes millions of pounds to the Exchequer, but these businesses are not being allowed to open properly, and yet pubs can. Can we have an urgent discussion about how we can help the industry understand these very conflicting rules, get these people back to business and let love flourish?

[Mr Rees-Mogg]

My hon. Friend reminds us that, historically, marriages did not take place during Lent, and therefore took place immediately after Lent. She is right to say that spring is a time when people want to get married and the weather is better for their celebrations. I can assure her that the Minister for Small Business, my hon. Friend the Member for Sutton and Cheam (Paul Scully), is regularly in contact with the industry-led weddings taskforce, established to represent all parts of the UK wedding sector, to understand the effect of the pandemic on jobs and businesses.

Over the course of the pandemic, the Government have provided an unprecedented package of financial support to businesses, including those in the wedding industry, and that is kept under regular review. I understand that the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has further discussions planned with the industry-led weddings taskforce to appreciate the sector’s concerns and help it through the reopening period.

Over 28 million people in the UK have received their first dose of the vaccine, increasing the likelihood that restrictions will be eased at each step of the road map, including restrictions on weddings, but I sympathise very much with what my hon. Friend says and the representations she makes on behalf of her constituents. She is right to say that the wedding industry has been particularly badly affected by the pandemic, and it is important that it can get back to normal as soon as is practicable, in accordance with the road map.