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1187625

registered interest
date	24/03/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Construction: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to stop all non-essential construction work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
tabling member printed	Baroness Kennedy of Cradley
uin	HL2863
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2020 answer text <p>Construction plays a crucial role in supporting our public services, maintaining the nation’s infrastructure, and providing safe, decent homes for people to live in. Construction workers who cannot work from home, who show no symptoms of Covid-19, and who live in households where no person is self-isolating, should still go to work. This is consistent with the advice of the Chief Medical Officer.</p><p> </p><p>However, the Government is clear that construction activity should only continue where it can take place in line with the social distancing guidance provided by Public Health England. Through the Construction Leadership Council, the construction industry has issued Site Operating Procedures which align with this guidance.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 07/04/2020 11:36:14 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	4303 label Biography information for Baroness Kennedy of Cradley

1187626

registered interest
date	24/03/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Cleaning Services: Key Workers
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to add outsourced cleaners to the list of key workers.
tabling member printed	Baroness Kennedy of Cradley
uin	HL2864
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2020 answer text <p>Key workers are defined as those whose work is critical to the Coronavirus response, based on consultation across the Government. This includes those who work in the health and social care sectors, as well as those providing essential services in industries such as education and childcare, transport, food and delivery, utilities, communications, public safety, and the Government. We are actively keeping guidance on key workers under review.</p><p> </p><p>Employers should carefully consider the guidance, which sets out the key workers who will not be able to work from home. They can contact the Government department responsible for their sector if they have any questions.</p><p> </p><p>If you cannot work from home then you can still travel to work, provided you are well and neither you nor any of your household are self-isolating. This is consistent with advice from the Chief Medical Officer.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 07/04/2020 11:36:48 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	4303 label Biography information for Baroness Kennedy of Cradley

1187638

registered interest
date	24/03/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	British Business Bank
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether new challenger banks have been accepted as an official lender by the British Business Bank; if not, why not; what estimate they have made of the time that it will take for small and medium sized companies to be able to speak to potential lenders to access the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme; and what plans they have to ensure that access is given promptly.
tabling member printed	Lord Mann
uin	HL2876
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/04/2020 answer text <p>The priority for the British Business Bank (BBB) has been to get the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan scheme up and running, delivering urgently needed finance to UK SMEs. In order to achieve that, the Bank has worked with the already existing infrastructure and the 40 accredited lenders to make this operational as soon as possible. Existing lenders range from high-street banks to challenger banks, asset-based lenders and smaller specialist local lenders.</p><p> </p><p>Now that the scheme has successfully launched, accrediting new partners is a top priority. The Bank has put in place substantial additional resource to assist with processing applications from new lenders as quickly as possible.</p><p> </p><p>The scheme went live on Monday 23 March, so businesses are able to speak to lenders now and apply for facilities. Businesses should check on the British Business Bank’s webpage to find out which lenders are able to provide the type of finance they are looking for.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 06/04/2020 12:39:24 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	1387 label Biography information for Lord Mann

1187642

registered interest
date	24/03/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Travel Agents: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure action is taken against travel agents who fail to honour contractual commitments regarding the cancellation of travel and holiday arrangements; and whether they are considering any support for consumers affected by any such failures.
tabling member printed	Lord Moynihan
uin	HL2880
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/04/2020 answer text <p>Under consumer law consumers are entitled to a refund within 14 days, depending on the nature of the contract in place. Many businesses are also offering consumers vouchers or alternative dates, which consumers are able to choose should they wish. The Government is engaging with the package travel sector and consumer advocacy bodies to assess the impact of cancellations made in light of the covid-19 outbreak.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 06/04/2020 11:37:41 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	924 label Biography information for Lord Moynihan

1187643

registered interest
date	24/03/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Travel Agents: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure action is taken against travel agents whose approach towards refunds is inconsistent with consumer rights legislation and, in particular, the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018.
tabling member printed	Lord Moynihan
uin	HL2881
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/04/2020 answer text <p>The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 protect consumers who have bought package holidays. Under existing consumer law consumers are able to choose a voucher or credit note should they wish. We are engaging with the package travel sector and others to assess the impact of the covid-19 outbreak.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 06/04/2020 11:36:23 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	924 label Biography information for Lord Moynihan

1187644

registered interest
date	24/03/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Travel Agents: Repayments
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to amend the provisions of the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 in relation to the contractual commitments of travel agents regarding the refunding of holiday and travel bookings; and, if they have any such plans, what steps they are taking to ensure that any such changes are not financially detrimental to consumers.
tabling member printed	Lord Moynihan
uin	HL2882
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/04/2020 answer text <p>Under consumer law consumers are entitled to a refund within 14 days, depending on the nature of the contract in place. Many businesses are also offering consumers vouchers or alternative dates, which consumers are able to choose should they wish. The Government is engaging with the package travel sector and consumer advocacy bodies to assess the impact of cancellations made in light of the covid-19 outbreak. We recognise the extremely difficult circumstances travel agents are currently facing, which is why on 17 March the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a wide range of support for businesses, in addition to the £30bn support announced in the budget.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 06/04/2020 11:38:23 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	924 label Biography information for Lord Moynihan

1187647

registered interest
date	24/03/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Self-employed: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what further financial measures they plan to introduce to assist the self-employed and freelancers who are financially disadvantaged due to COVID-19.
tabling member printed	Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
uin	HL2885
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2020 answer text <p>The self-employed play an important role in the UK economy and the Government is supporting them through an unprecedented package of measures during this period of disruption.</p><p> </p><p>These include a temporary relaxation of the earnings rules (known as the Minimum Income Floor) for self-employed claimants who are sick or self-isolating according to Government guidance. This has already come into effect: on 20 February the Government extended this to all self-employed claimants not just those directly impacted by the virus, ensuring those affected by the economic impact of the outbreak are supported.</p><p> </p><p>Self-employed people unable to work because they are directly affected by Covid-19 or self-isolating will also be eligible for Contributory Employment and Support Allowance. As announced at Budget, this is now payable from the first day of sickness, rather than the eighth.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, on 26 March, the Chancellor announced world-leading scheme to support the UK’s self-employed affected by the coronavirus outbreak. he Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will support self-employed individuals (including members of partnerships) whose income has been negatively impacted by COVID-19. The scheme will provide a grant to self-employed individuals or partnerships, worth 80% of their profits up to a cap of £2,500 per month.</p><p> </p><p>All details of Government support for business during the coronavirus outbreak can be found on the Government’s Business Support website.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 07/04/2020 11:37:26 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

1187650

registered interest
date	24/03/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Companies: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend the maximum time between which companies must hold annual general meetings, as set out in section 336 of the Companies Act 2006, due to the need for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
tabling member printed	Lord Smith of Finsbury
uin	HL2888
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/04/2020 answer text <p>The Government has announced a number of measures to reduce burdens on businesses small and large during the Covid-19 outbreak as part of the measures announced by the Chancellor and as set out in the Coronavirus Act. Further measures are being developed and will be announced in due course.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has also been working closely with stakeholders in developing guidance on how to conduct Annual General Meetings in the face of Covid-19 restrictions. The guidance is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s and Chartered Governance Institute’s websites and is being kept under review in light of evolving circumstances. We have continued to listen and work closely with businesses to ensure they are able to conduct their business in a safe, orderly and effective way. As a consequence we announced on 28 March our intention to legislate as soon as possible to give companies greater, temporary flexibility.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 06/04/2020 11:43:02 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	186 label Biography information for Lord Smith of Finsbury

1187660

registered interest
date	24/03/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the guidelines issued to lenders participating in the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans Scheme permit such lenders to require that an SME director pledge personal assets in order to receive a Government guarantee of 80 per cent on each loan; and what guidance has been issued to lenders on the terms of such lending.
tabling member printed	Viscount Trenchard
uin	HL2898
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2020 answer text <p>The terms of the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) state that Personal Guarantees of any form (whether or not these include the pledging of personal assets) cannot be used in respect of any CBILS facilities up to £250,000.</p><p> </p><p>Personal guarantees for CBILS facilities above £250,000 are not required by the scheme rules. They may be taken at the lender’s discretion. If that is the case, recoveries under such guarantees are capped at a maximum of 20% of the outstanding balance of the CBILS facility after the proceeds of business assets, if any, have been applied.</p><p> </p><p>A Principal Private Residence cannot be taken as security to support a personal guarantee or as security for any CBILS facility.</p><p> </p><p>These terms were updated on 3 April 2020 and will be retrospectively applied for any CBILS facilities offered since the start of the scheme on 23 March 2020. This means that any personal guarantees already taken for CBILS facilities up to £250,000 will be waived.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 07/04/2020 11:39:10 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	1829 label Biography information for Viscount Trenchard

1187661

registered interest
date	24/03/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Self-employed: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 23 March (HL2389), what additional measures they are proposing to bring forward to support the self-employed.
tabling member printed	Lord Truscott
uin	HL2899
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2020 answer text <p>The Government is working to minimise any social and economic disruption as a result of Covid-19.</p><p> </p><p>We have introduced several measures to support the self-employed, including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, mortgage holidays, the delaying of IR35 by a year to April 2021, and support for people struggling to pay their energy bills. Self-employed people will also be able to claim Universal Credit at a rate equivalent to Statutory Sick Pay for employees and may be eligible for Contributory Employment and Support Allowance (which is now payable from the first day of sickness, rather than the eighth). We have also deferred Income Tax Self-Assessment payments due in July 2020, to January 2021.</p><p> </p><p>Following the Chancellor’s latest announcement, the Government have introduced the Self-employment Income Support Scheme. This will support self-employed individuals, including members of partnerships, whose income has been negatively impacted by COVID-19. The scheme will provide a grant to self-employed individuals or partnerships, worth 80% of their profits up to a cap of £2,500 per month. HMRC is urgently working to deliver the scheme and we are expecting to start to pay grants by early June 2020.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 07/04/2020 11:40:59 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	3682 label Biography information for Lord Truscott