Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide additional financial support to outdoor educational centres.

Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, the government has sought to protect people’s jobs and livelihoods across the UK, and support businesses and public services. The government has provided over £280 billion through small business grants, COVID-19 loan guarantee schemes, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), deferral of VAT and income tax payments, and more. The measures introduced have been designed to be accessible to businesses in most sectors and across the UK.

In January 2021, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced an extension to the deadline for applications of the Bounce Back Loan scheme and other loan schemes until 31 March 2021. Further measures were announced in the Budget 2021 on 3 March including the extension of the CJRS until the end of September 2021, and increased support for the self-employed through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grants, with a fifth grant available from July 2021, and the Recovery Loans Scheme launching to make finance available to help businesses of all sizes through the next stage of recovery. More details of the scheme will be announced in due course.

The government will continue to work closely with local authorities, businesses, business representative organisations, and the financial services sector to monitor the implementation of current support and understand whether there is additional need.

The government encourages businesses who are unable to access support or who are unsure of the support available to access free tailored advice through the Business Support Helpline via the Business Support website at: www.gov.uk/business-support-helpline or through local Growth Hubs in England: www.lepnetwork.net/local-growth-hub-contacts. Businesses in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can access business support through the devolved governments.