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<p>The Prime Minister announced on Monday 22 February that indoor entertainment venues,
which will include Adult Gaming Centres, will open at Step 3 of the roadmap, not before
17 May. The design of the roadmap has been informed by the latest scientific evidence
and seeks a balance between our key social and economic priorities, while preserving
the health and safety of the country.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>At next week’s
Budget the Chancellor will set out the next phase in our economic support package
to reflect the steps set out in the Prime Minister’s roadmap to easing restrictions,
tailoring support for individuals and businesses to reflect the changing public health
restrictions.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The government recognises that the ongoing
impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be extremely challenging for businesses,
including in the arcades sector. That is why we have introduced a number of unprecedented
financial packages to help to ease pressures and help businesses navigate through
this crisis, including extending the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Coronavirus
Business Interruption Loan Scheme, introducing £4.6 billion in lockdown grants for
retail, hospitality and leisure businesses and providing further discretionary funding
for Local Authorities.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>We are continuing to work with
organisations in the land-based gambling sector to understand the impacts and how
we may be able to support them. Currently, we estimate that up to 5% of adult gaming
centres (AGCs) have ceased trading with roughly 10.1% of jobs lost in the past twelve
months. This estimate is based on recent discussions with Bacta, the trade association
for the arcades sector. We know that there are also significant job losses across
the land-based gambling sector from discussions with the Betting and Gaming Council
and the Bingo Association.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>As set out in response to
question 149200 on 9 February, the government has published guidance to help businesses
understand how to make workplaces Covid-secure and help tackle the spread of the virus.
AGCs should follow the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/shops-and-branches"
target="_blank">shops and branches</a> guidance in addition to Bacta’s specific guidance
for <a href="https://bacta.org.uk/2021/01/17/bacta-re-opening-guidance-for-fecs-and-agcs-in-england-v5-0/"
target="_blank">FECs and AGCs</a> to ensure they can operate as safely as possible
when they are open.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The shops and branches workplace
guidance was intended as guidance for those businesses on how they could operate safely
when the regulations permitted them to do so after the first national lockdown and
beyond. It does not have a direct bearing on the timing for reopening of the businesses
included in the guidance.</p><p> </p>
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