Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of providing additional sectoral support to the (a) live performance and (b) wedding industries to cover costs that may have been incurred through the extension of covid-19 restrictions beyond 21 June 2021.

The Government recognises the extreme disruption the necessary actions to combat Covid-19 are having on sectors like live events and weddings.

During this difficult time the Treasury is working intensively with employers, delivery partners, industry groups, and other government departments to understand the effects of Covid-19 across all key areas of the economy.

Eligible events and businesses may already benefit from available employment schemes, government grant and loan schemes, a reduction in VAT and business rates relief; as well as the Culture Recovery Fund which has already supported thousands of organisations including theatres, music venues, comedy clubs and festivals. Much of this support will continue to be available to September, reflecting the Chancellor’s decision at Budget to extend the package of economic support to accommodate even a very cautious view about the time it might take to exit restrictions and to provide certainty and continuity to business.

Changes to restrictions announced by the Prime Minister will also remove the 30- person limit on wedding venues, with venue capacity based on the number of attendees who can be accommodated with social distancing in place. We are also removing the cap on numbers for outdoor weddings, but with a requirement to socially distance.

We will continue to monitor the impact of government support, such as the extension of restrictions beyond 21 June, on public services, businesses, individuals and sectors, including the events sector, as we respond to this pandemic.