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1189952

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
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	Bankruptcy: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to waive bankruptcy fees for people who become bankrupt as a result of the economic effects of the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Bristol West
tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
uin	39531
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>Government has no plans at this time to waive bankruptcy fees.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 04/05/2020 15:01:32 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1190048

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Probate Service: Standards
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps is he taking to ensure that the Probate Registry can process the current high level of cases.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	39713
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>Her Majesty’s Courts &amp; Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has continued to process applications for grant of probate during the coronavirus pandemic. The digital online probate service is available for both citizens and legal professionals and this means that both the applicant, and where necessary, HMCTS can administer grants remotely.</p><p> </p><p>Paper applications from citizens have been digitised, through the introduction of a bulk scanning, since January 2020. This will shortly be extended to legal professional applications for those who are not yet using the online service. This also increases the ability of HMCTS to continue to work and process high levels of probate applications.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, HMCTS has introduced a number of temporary measures to assist applicants in making their applicants during the current circumstances, such as allowing statements of truth in place of affidavits, enabling electronic signatures on applications and providing guidance on witnessing renunciations and Powers of Attorneys whilst social distancing measures are in place.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 05/05/2020 16:44:55 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1190049

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Estate Agents: Key Workers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has assessed the service provided by estate agents as essential service to (a) the public and (b) the economy.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	39714
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>Estate Agents play an important role both in supporting home moves where these have to take place, and in helping their existing clients to delay moves wherever possible. However, Estate Agents are not defined as essential workers and should work from home wherever it is possible for them to do so, as long as the current stay-at-home measures apply.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 04/05/2020 14:59:48 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1190057

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Small Business Grants Fund
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending eligibility for the Small Business Grant Fund to include small businesses which are not registered for business rates because they rent a space within a larger property and pay a proportion of business rates to the landlord.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	39566
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>The Small Business Grant Fund has been designed to support the smallest businesses which have been affected by the measures taken to prevent the spread of Covid-19.</p><p> </p><p>The SBGF has been tied to the business rates system and rating assessments, which together provide a framework for Local Authorities to make payments as quickly as possible. Businesses in the business rates system are also likely to face particularly high fixed costs, such as fixed rents.</p><p> </p><p>Extending the scheme to businesses outside of the business rates system, such as businesses which rent a space within a larger property or which pay a proportion of business rates to their landlord, would not be practicable as it would require Local Authorities to create an entirely new system and to put in place appropriate anti-fraud checks. This would significantly increase Local Authorities’ workloads at a time when they are already working under pressure to support struggling businesses as quickly as possible.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency North East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Steve Barclay question first answered 05/05/2020 12:58:27 answering member 4095 label Biography information for Steve Barclay
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1190255

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Agriculture: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to provide to support the people in the agricultural sector affected by market disruption during the covid-19 outbreak through a mechanism similar to the retail and hospitality grant scheme.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	39794
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF) is a specific fund that is run by local authorities and linked to business rates. Most farmers are exempt from business rates so the rationale and operation of this scheme is unsuitable for the farming sector.</p><p> </p><p>The department has been in close discussion with banks to ensure the farming sector has access to financial support to ease cashflow problems during this period, including through the HMG backed Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan (CBIL), and the Bounce Back Loan scheme, which was announced on 27 April, and is the latest step in a package of support measures announced by the Chancellor. The Government will provide lenders with a 100% guarantee on each loan, to give lenders the confidence they need to support small businesses. These loans will be from £2,000 up to £50,000, capped at 25% of firms’ turnover, and the Government will cover the first 12 months of interest payments and fees charged to the business by the lender. Almost all UK businesses will be eligible to apply for a loan under the scheme.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, we have temporarily relaxed certain elements of competition law to support the farming sector during this period. Legislation will be laid shortly to enable collaboration between dairy farmers and producers, supporting them to adapt to changes in the supply chain including decreased demand from the hospitality sector. The legislation will have retrospective effect.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 04/05/2020 16:15:39 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1190284

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Disinformation: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to prevent false information on covid-19 being spread on the internet.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	39666
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government takes the issue of misinformation and disinformation very seriously. It is vitally important that the public has accurate information.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Counter Disinformation Unit brings together cross-Government monitoring and analysis capabilities. The Unit’s primary function is to provide a comprehensive picture of the extent, scope and impact of disinformation and misinformation regarding Covid-19.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>We are working closely with social media platforms to help them identify and remove incorrect claims about the virus, in line with their terms and conditions, as well as promote authoritative sources of information. We are also working with strategic communications experts to ensure that we are prepared to respond to disinformation campaigns where necessary.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government is also running a counter disinformation communications campaign, which aims to increase audience resilience by educating and empowering those who see, inadvertently share and are affected by false and misleading information.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 06/05/2020 15:07:42 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1190296

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Local Government: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with Local Resilience Forums to ensure that local authorities are responding effectively to the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	39670
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>Since early February there has been regular contact between MHCLG and Local Resilience Forums (LRFs) in England to manage the response to Covid-19. This has included involvement in Strategic Coordination Groups held by each LRF, weekly calls with LRF Chairs and individual engagement with LRFs by Ministers and senior officials.</p> answering member constituency Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland answering member printed Mr Simon Clarke question first answered 05/05/2020 12:59:45 answering member 4655 label Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1190302

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
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	St George's Day
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to make St George's Day a bank holiday.
tabling member constituency	Ipswich
tabling member printed	Tom Hunt
uin	39812
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government regularly receives requests for additional bank and public holidays to commemorate a variety of occasions – such as cultural, history, military and religious events.  The current pattern on public and bank holidays is well established and acknowledged throughout the country.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 05/05/2020 10:08:52 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4771 label Biography information for Tom Hunt

1190322

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Social Rented Housing: Natural Gas
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether social housing tenants retain the right to request a gas safety check when practical to complete during and after the period of lockdown, provided that (a) a risk assessment has been carried out and (b) the inspection can be completed in line with Public Health England guidelines.
tabling member constituency	Rother Valley
tabling member printed	Alexander Stafford
uin	39821
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>We are committed to helping to ensure that everyone renting their home has a safe and decent place to live. Landlords' repair obligations have not changed, and they should make every effort to comply with gas safety regulations, including annual gas safety checks in residents' homes every year. Our guidance is clear that housing providers should make arrangements to enter people’s homes for urgent or essential repairs and maintenance and no work should be carried out in any household which is isolating or where an individual is being shielded, unless the work is to remedy a direct risk to the safety of the household. Where entry is required for emergency repairs landlords should take every possible step to minimise contact with residents and follow government guidance on tradespeople working in people homes, which may be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/guidance-for-employers-and-businesses-on-coronavirus-covid-19#social-distancing-in-the-workplace---principles" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/guidance-for-employers-and-businesses-on-coronavirus-covid-19#social-distancing-in-the-workplace---principles</a>.</p><p>If a resident is self-isolating, routine gas safety checks should be rearranged after the 14-day self-isolation period has ended. If after the 14-day isolation period, it is not possible to complete the checks because another member is now self-isolating, landlords should again agree a new date for the checks to take place.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 04/05/2020 15:05:48 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	4866 label Biography information for Alexander Stafford

1190077

registered interest
date	23/04/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Nurseries: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to provide additional time to nurseries to enable them to comply with the guidance published by his Department on 22 April 2020 on furloughing staff.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	39580
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The government has put in place a number of funding and financial measures to support organisations – both public and private – during the COVID-19 outbreak. These are intended to be temporary, timely and targeted, to support public services, people and businesses through this period of disruption. They include the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), which is a temporary scheme for all entities with a UK payroll and is in place for 4 months starting from 1 March 2020, but it may be extended if necessary and employers can use this scheme at any time during this period.</p><p>Guidance on how early years providers are able to access the CJRS is available at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 04/05/2020 15:39:16 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell