Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether some sectors will be harmed more than others by the COVID-19 pandemic; and what associated measures they have taken to support public health in those sectors.

The Office for National Statistics reports that 82% of businesses that responded to its latest COVID-19 business impacts survey stated that they were continuing to trade between 4 May and 17 May 2020; while 18% reported they had temporarily closed or paused trading.

Of the sectors that the Office for National Statistics’ survey covered, the ‘arts, entertainment and recreation’ and ‘accommodation and food service activities’ sectors had the largest proportion of businesses who were not currently trading.

We recognise the challenges faced by businesses across the country at this challenging time, which is why we have made a significant package of support available to businesses, including:

• grants such as through the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHGLF) and the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF) available to eligible businesses
• government-backed loans through schemes such as the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS)
• access to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) to furlough workers, which will continue in its current form until 31 July and then in a more flexible form from August until 31 October
• a business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses for the 2020 to 2021 tax year
• the option to defer VAT payments due between 20 March and 30 June until 31 March 2021

In addition, the Government has issued practical guidelines to make workplaces safe, and to give those people who cannot work from home during the coronavirus pandemic, confidence to go back to work. This guidance covers eight workplace settings, from outdoor environments and construction sites to factories and takeaways, which are allowed to be open.