Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the cost to the public purse was of funding provided to businesses in Blackpool during the covid-19 pandemic through the (a) Local Restrictions Support Grant, (b) Additional Restrictions Grant, (c) Christmas Support Payment and (d) Omicron Hospitality & Leisure Grant.
Answered by Dean Russell
The figures below display the value of Covid-19 grants paid by Blackpool Council to small and medium businesses in their local area.
Small Business Grant Fund and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund | £45,005,000 |
Local Authority Discretionary Grant Fund | £2,422,000 |
Local Restrictions Support Grant | £32,032,283 |
Additional Restrictions Grant | £4,668,663 |
Christmas Support Payment | £106,000 |
Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant | £3,951,688 |
A full breakdown of grant funding allocated to, and distributed by, each Local Authority, is available here.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the cost to the public purse was of funding provided to businesses in Blackpool during the covid-19 outbreak through the (a) Retail, Hospitality & Leisure Grant Fund, (b) Small Business Grant Fund and (c) Local Authority Discretionary Grant Fund.
Answered by Dean Russell
The figures below display the value of Covid-19 grants paid by Blackpool Council to small and medium businesses in their local area.
Small Business Grant Fund and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund | £45,005,000 |
Local Authority Discretionary Grant Fund | £2,422,000 |
Local Restrictions Support Grant | £32,032,283 |
Additional Restrictions Grant | £4,668,663 |
Christmas Support Payment | £106,000 |
Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant | £3,951,688 |
A full breakdown of grant funding allocated to, and distributed by, each Local Authority, is available here.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much funding was provided to businesses in Blackpool during the covid-19 outbreak through government-backed business loans.
Answered by Dean Russell
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) and the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) were delivered by the British Business Bank (BBB) through commercial lenders. These schemes closed to new applications on 31 March 2021.
A breakdown of loans offered through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) by constituency, borough and regional area are available for download from the British Business Bank website. Regional breakdowns of loans offered through the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) are not published due to data protection and commercial considerations.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the Government's policy is on anticipatory investment in decarbonisation projects; what plans his Department has to provide guidance to distribution networks on the funding of decarbonisation plans; and what assessment he has made of the potential effect of decarbonisation investment on bills paid by customers.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
Network regulation is a matter for the independent regulator, Ofgem. Government supports Ofgem in their work to ensure the price control provides an appropriate framework for distribution networks to invest as needed to support the transition to net zero. This includes capacity to support increased demand for low carbon technologies, such as electric vehicles and heat pumps, and connecting new sources of low-carbon electricity generation. Government also supports Ofgem in their objective of ensuring network regulation protects consumers, including providing value for money on their energy bills.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
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 legislative proposals needed to enable electricity distribution companies to prepare electricity networks for decarbonisation; what steps he is taking to encourage investment to support the transition to low carbon infrastructure, energy and technology; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
As the independent energy regulator, Ofgem regulates electricity distribution companies through a price control framework which governs networks’ revenues, investments and performance standards. In its Decarbonisation Action Plan, Ofgem stated its commitment to creating a regulatory environment which enables and encourages networks to invest for Net Zero. The Government is supportive of this objective.
The Government’s Green Finance Strategy set out our approach to accelerating green finance and catalysing private investment to support delivery of the UK’s climate objectives.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment the Government has made of the potential merits of additional regulation in the hairdressing industry to allow only those with formal qualifications in the industry to operate both from salons and in people's homes.
Answered by Paul Scully
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided to the petition P002432, “The regulation of the Hair, Barber and Beauty industries”, 20 May 2019, Official Report, Volume 660.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment the Government has made of the potential merits of introducing a compulsory registration scheme for hairdressers, operating from both salons and people's homes, to ensure that customers can have confidence during the covid-19 outbreak that they are operating responsibly and in accordance with the law.
Answered by Paul Scully
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided to the petition P002432, “The regulation of the Hair, Barber and Beauty industries”, 20 May 2019, Official Report, Volume 660.
We have published comprehensive guidance for people who provide close contact services, including hairdressers and barbers to ensure they are COVID-secure:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/close-contact-services.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will publish the medical guidance underpinning the decision not to allow health and beauty salons to carry out certain treatments during the covid-19 outbreak in (a) Blackpool and (b) the UK.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Ministerial Taskforces have been getting scientific input from Public Health England (PHE) as they draft guidance. Each individual working group which produced the guidance published on 11 May had active PHE presence, and each set of guidance was produced in collaboration with them, the Health and Safety Executive and other Departments. This model was followed by the close contact services taskforce.
The PHE staff who have supported the BEIS taskforces are in regular direct contact with those attending SAGE and have access to the PHE SAGE read-outs. They have endeavoured to reflect closely the SAGE recommendations and have also been responsible for putting some subjects pertinent to BEIS discussions to SAGE, such as persistence of COVID-19 on surfaces, and consideration of social distancing requirements under different scenarios. SAGE information is shared on its website: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/scientific-advisory-group-for-emergencies-sage-coronavirus-covid-19-response.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with representatives of the health and beauty industry on devising safe working practices to allow the resumption of those treatments which cannot currently be carried out safely.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Close Contact Services taskforce comprised stakeholders from a cross section of the sector, including representative organisations. We consulted these stakeholders due to their expertise and real-life knowledge and experience of the challenges faced by the industry during the COVID-19 outbreak.
This taskforce was responsible for developing guidance to help businesses in this sector prepare to reopen safely, and representations have included:
Any Ministerial meeting information will be shared in due course on: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/beis-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will provide further business support grants to businesses in (a) Blackpool and (b) the UK that do not know when they can reopen as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Government has announced an unprecedented package of support for businesses to help with their ongoing business costs in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19. This package of support includes?the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF) and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF). In addition, on 1 May,?the Government announced that up to £617 million is being made available to Local Authorities?in England to allow them to provide discretionary grants.
These funds?have supported many thousands of small businesses?with their ongoing business costs in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19. ?As of 13 July, local authorities have made grant payments to over 872,520 business premises, totalling £10.7 billion, under the Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF) and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund (RHLGF). As of 13 July, Blackpool Council have made payments to 3,860 business premises, totalling £43,835,000, under the SBGF and the RHLGF.
Officials are keeping in close contact with Local Authorities?to understand how the schemes are rolling out and advising ministers on any additional support?which could be offered to help businesses and support local economies.