Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether (a) zoos, (b) aquariums, (c) safari parks and (d) other organisations that manage or preserve natural habitats and species are eligible for funding from the Cultural Recovery Fund.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
Under the Culture Recovery Fund, organisations which manage or preserve natural habitats and species as the main focus of their activity are ineligible.
Full eligibility can be found on the website of the relevant delivery body (in this case National Lottery Heritage Fund/Historic England https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-support-for-zoos-and-aquariums#eligibility), and queries concerning eligibility can be directed to them. Funding may be available to organisations that manage listed buildings to support reopening and preservation.
Organisations which manage or preserve natural habitats or species may be eligible for the Zoo Animals Fund, managed through the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. Applications are open until 26 February 2021, and eligibility criteria can be accessed here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-support-for-zoos-and-aquariums#eligibility.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to extend the Zoo Animals Fund beyond 29 January 2021; and whether that fund is planned to be made more accessible to large zoos and aquariums.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
The Zoo Animal Fund remains open for applications until 29 January 2021 and provides support up until the end of March 2021. We are considering whether an extension to this application deadline may be possible. The Zoo Animals Fund is an envelope of funding to provide for zoos who, due to a coronavirus-related drop in income are experiencing severe financial difficulties and need support in caring for their animals between now and the start of the next peak visitor season, which is normally around Easter time. If zoos are downsizing or rehoming their collection the fund can also provide support for this to ensure the animals' welfare. To make the Fund even more accessible we expanded the eligibility criteria so that grant payments to zoos begin when zoos reach their final 12 weeks of financial reserves, rather than 6 weeks, and so that zoos can apply for funding at any time before reaching this 12 week point to help with their business planning.
Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Neston)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of all zoos and aquariums are under (a) tier 2 and (b) tier 3 local covid alert level restrictions.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
Given the recent announcement by the Prime Minister, all zoos and aquariums have now been asked to close in line with the latest lockdown measures. We recognise this has been a challenging time for the sector and encourage those who are experiencing severe financial difficulties and need support in caring for their animals to apply for the Zoo Animals Fund. Zoos are also able to apply for the full range of Covid-19 financial support that the Government has made available. We remain committed to ensuring the sector can deliver the best possible care for its animals and are in regular contact with zoos and their representatives to monitor their situation.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will extend the scope of the Zoo Animals Fund to allow (a) more zoos and (b) larger zoos to access that funding.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
On 3 August we announced the Zoo Animals Fund. This fund is an envelope of up to £100 million for England's zoos and aquariums and builds upon the previous Zoos Support Fund which operated until the end of July. The current Zoo Animals Fund provides financial support to zoos facing financial difficulties. The eligibility criteria for the current fund were extended beyond those of the initial fund. In particular, grant payments to zoos now begin when zoos reach their final 12 weeks of financial reserves, rather than 6 weeks. Zoos can now also apply for funding at any time before reaching this 12 week point to help with their business planning. This fund is there to help zoos which, due to a coronavirus-related drop in income, are experiencing financial difficulties and therefore need support in caring for their animals. If zoos are downsizing or rehoming their collection the fund can also provide support for this to ensure the animals' welfare. Due to the Coronavirus State Aid Temporary Framework any support from this fund has to be committed by 31 December 2020, and the deadline for applications is 16 November. Grants which are awarded this year will be able to cover the financial difficulties zoos are facing up to 31 March 2021. Zoo licence holders, including larger zoos, are already able to access the fund if they need to.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
What steps he is taking to help ensure that zoos and aquariums affected by covid-19 can access the Zoos Support Fund.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
The £14 million Zoos Support Fund ended and has been replaced by the £100 million Zoo Animals Fund. To make this fund even more accessible, we have expanded the eligibility criteria so that grant payments to zoos begin when they reach their final 12 weeks of financial reserves, rather than six weeks, and so that zoos can apply for funding at any time before reaching this 12 week point to help with their business planning. Defra officials have been engaging regularly with larger zoos to understand their concerns and will continue to do so.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to extend the support scheme for zoos to all zoos facing financial difficulties.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
On 3 August we announced the Zoo Animals Fund. This fund is an envelope of up to £100 million for England’s zoos and aquariums and builds upon the previous Zoos Support Fund which operated until the end of July. The current Zoo Animals Fund already provides financial support to all zoos facing financial difficulties. The eligibility criteria for the current fund were extended beyond those of the initial fund. In particular, grant payments to zoos now begin when zoos reach their final 12 weeks of financial reserves, rather than 6 weeks. Zoos can now also apply for funding at any time before reaching this 12 week point to help with their business planning. This fund is there to help all zoos who due to a coronavirus-related drop in income are experiencing financial difficulties and therefore need support in caring for their animals. If zoos are downsizing or rehoming their collection the fund can also provide support for this to ensure the animals’ welfare. Due to the Coronavirus State Aid Temporary Framework any support from this fund has to be committed by 31 December 2020, and the deadline for applications is 16th November. Grants which are awarded this year will be able to cover the financial difficulties zoos are facing up to 31 March 2021.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the £100m allocated for zoos and aquariums in response to covid-19 outbreak, whether he plans to (a) ringfence the remainder of that funding or (b) reform the eligibility criteria to ensure that funding supports its intended purpose.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
The objective of the Zoo Animals Fund is to provide for operators who, due to a coronavirus-related drop in income are experiencing severe financial difficulties and need support in caring for their animal collections between now and the start of the next season. The eligibility criteria have been set to ensure the funding reaches those zoos in most need. ZAF grant payments to zoos begin when they reach their final 12 weeks of financial reserves. Zoos can though, apply at any time before reaching this 12 week point to help with their business planning. If zoos are downsizing or rehoming their collection the fund can also provide support for this to ensure the animals’ welfare. We are monitoring uptake of the Zoo Animals Fund and remain in discussion with zoos about how the scheme is working. The Zoo Animals Fund applies in relation to financial difficulties arising until the end of 2020/21, after which the new zoos peak visitor season starts and viable zoos should be able to cover their costs.
Asked by: Anne Marie Morris (Conservative - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether remaining funds in the Zoo Animals Fund can be ringfenced to support zoos and aquariums that have more than 12 weeks operating costs remaining and who are therefore ineligible for support from the Zoo Animals Fund.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
A £14 million funding envelope was made available for the initial Zoos Support Fund (ZSF), which closed at the end of July, and this envelope was then rolled forward and expanded to £100 million and made available for the subsequent Zoo Animals Fund (ZAF). It is therefore not the case that there are unspent funds from the ZSF which are available to be allocated to zoos separately from the ZAF. ZAF grant payments to zoos begin when they reach their final 12 weeks of financial reserves. Zoos can though, apply at any time before reaching this 12 week point to help with their business planning. The objective of the ZAF is to provide for operators who, due to a coronavirus-related drop in income, are experiencing severe financial difficulties and need support in caring for their animal collections between now and the start of the next season. It is not a guarantee to ensure that individual zoo operators themselves stay in business. If zoos are downsizing or rehoming their collection the fund can also provide support for this to ensure the animals’ welfare. We are monitoring uptake of the ZAF and remain in discussion with zoos about how the scheme is working.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much of the £14m allocated for zoos and aquariums in response to Covid-19 has been (a) allocated to and (b) received (i) in total and (ii) for each zoo and aquarium.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
Over £2.2 million was allocated to and received by zoos and aquariums under the £14 million Zoo Support Fund, which was active until the end of July 2020. The spend category for each zoo is listed below. The £100 million Zoo Animals Fund was subsequently launched at the beginning of August 2020. Zoos and aquariums can currently receive a grant of up to around £730,000 to pay for animal welfare related costs and essential maintenance. The deadline for applications for support from the new fund is 16 November 2020 and we encourage all eligible establishments to apply.
Zoos awarded up to £10k
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Zoos awarded between £10k and up to £25k
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Zoos awarded between £25k and up to £50k
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Zoos awarded between £50k and up to £75k
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Zoos awarded between £75k and up to £100k
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Asked by: Jonathan Gullis (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support Chester zoo during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
A number of schemes have been made available to businesses and charities that should help them during this emergency. Zoos are eligible to apply for 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.
The Zoos Support Fund was launched on 4 May with £14 million being made available to zoos in England. In response to feedback from the zoo industry the fund will now be extended to provide support to the sector of up to £100 million. Further details on the new scheme and eligibility will be released over the coming weeks. We will be engaging with some of the major zoos and aquariums, including Chester Zoo, to assess future support options.
In England, zoos and aquariums have been able to reopen outdoor areas since 15 June, subject to social distancing measures being in place. From 4 July indoor areas such as cafés and exhibits will be able to follow suit. Allowing zoos to fully reopen is a vital step towards enabling them to cover some of the cost of animal care.
We continue to work with BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums) to monitor concerns and gather insights from industry on current issues.