Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to support the hospitality sector in Coventry during the covid-19 outbreak.

We are providing an unprecedented package of support for hospitality businesses including an extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme until 31 March 2021, extension to the Self Employment Income Support Scheme, loans, VAT cuts and additional financial support through local authorities. In order to support SMEs in some of our most affected sectors of hospitality, retail and leisure, 961,959 Local Authority Grants totalling £11.01 billion have been paid out (as of 30 August). Also, no pub, hotel, or high street shop will pay business rates for financial year 2020/21 – totalling almost £10 billion in rates relief. Grants of up to £3,000 are available for all businesses required to close. We have also enabled restaurants and pubs to keep serving their customers through takeaway and alcohol deliveries through click and collect.