Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the viability of allowing outdoor (a) country festivals and (b) other outdoor events to re-open with covid-19 protection measures as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased; and what plans the Government has to provide long-term support to small businesses that organise those events.

DCMS has worked closely with the Events Industry Forum, and other members of the Entertainment and Events Working Group (which supports and informs the Cultural Renewal Taskforce), on developing sector-led Covid-19 secure guidance for outdoor events. This guidance, once published, would enable organised outdoor events to operate safely with appropriate risk assessment, and in line with the latest government regulations and advice.

DCMS continues to engage with a range of departments to support the economic response to Covid-19, and to ensure that the needs of its sectors, and those who work in them, are fully understood.

The Government has put in place unprecedented support that small businesses can take advantage of including the Bounceback Loan Scheme, discretionary business grants administered by local authorities and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.