Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the long-term effect of the closure order due to the covid-19 outbreak on the viability of (a) zoos, (b) safari parks, (c) aquariums and (d) farm visitor attractions.

Officials continue to meet weekly with BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums) to provide updates on the reopening position and understand the impact closure is having on zoos, safari parks, aquariums and farm visitor attractions (where these require a zoo licence). We are also taking expert advice from Defra’s Zoos Expert Committee (ZEC), and engaging with some of the largest zoos to discuss additional concerns which are arising including over a longer time frame, and active consideration of these is ongoing.

Zoos are eligible to apply for a range of support schemes including the Job Retention Scheme, VAT deferral, Business Rates Relief, the Business Interruption Loan schemes, the option to reclaim the costs of Statutory Sick Pay and grant funding of up to £25,000.

In addition, the £14 million Zoos Support Fund, which was opened on 4 May to help those zoos, safari parks, aquariums and eligible farm visitor attractions in severe financial distress due to the disruption caused by COVID-19 remains open for applications until 19 July 2020.