Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support his Department plans to provide to the events industry to support that sector's economic recovery when covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

The Government recognises the extreme disruption the necessary actions to combat Covid-19 are having on the events and exhibitions industry, as well as other industries facing Covid-19 restrictions.

During this difficult time the Treasury is working intensively with employers, delivery partners, industry groups and other government departments such as the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport to understand the long-term effects of Covid-19 on key areas of the economy.

Some of the closed sectors have already benefitted from the wide range of support, launched by the Government, to safeguard the economy during the pandemic. This includes the deferral of VAT payments, a year-long business rates holiday for eligible businesses, a wide range of Government-back and guaranteed loan schemes, the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

We have also provided local authorities with £1.1bn to enable them to support businesses over the coming months, as they form a key part of local economies.

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In response to the England-wide restrictions announced by the Prime Minister on the 31 October, we have announced a new set of national support measures. This includes an extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to March 2021, more generous support for the self-employed, extended application windows for government-backed loans and cash grants of up to £3,000 for businesses forced to close.

While we will not be able to protect every single job or save every single business, nor stand in the way of the economy adapting and people finding new jobs, or starting new businesses, we will continue to monitor the impact of Government support with regard to supporting businesses, individuals, and sectors as we respond to this pandemic.