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1216166

registered interest
date	22/06/2020
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	Disability: Retail Trade
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to monitor the effect on disabled people of the new covid-19 related rules on shopping.
tabling member constituency	Bristol West
tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
uin	62496
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government took into account people with disabilities when developing the guidance.</p><p>The safer workplaces guidance provides some suggestions to help employers make their workplaces COVID-19 secure for their employees, visitors and customers. We expect all businesses to approach reopening in a sensible way, taking account of the Government’s guidance and discussing with neighbouring businesses and their local authorities where applicable.</p><p> </p><p>Our guidance does not replace existing employment, health and safety or equalities legislation. It provides information to employers on how best to meet these responsibilities in the context of COVID-19.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 30/06/2020 08:48:27 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1197467

registered interest
date	20/05/2020
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	Retail Trade: 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, what criteria the Government is using to decide which retail businesses can open on 1 June 2020; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Bristol West
tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
uin	49725
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/06/2020 answer text <p>Since 1 June, outdoor markets and car showrooms have been able to open. The transmission of the virus is lower outdoors and in open spaces and the COVID-secure guidelines can be more easily followed.</p><p> </p><p>All other non-essential retail will be able to reopen from 15 June if the scientific and medical advice allows and they are able to follow the COVID-secure guidelines. This provides shops and other retail branches enough time to put in place the necessary social distancing measures and hygiene standards.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 02/06/2020 14:21:46 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1196168

registered interest
date	15/05/2020
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	Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of applying to remove the EU State Aid cap on the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Scheme for sectors that are not affected by state aid rules.
tabling member constituency	Bristol West
tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
uin	47337
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government keeps its business support schemes including the Retail, Leisure and Hospitality scheme under constant review. This is why we have updated guidance to Local Authorities administering the scheme, and why, based on feedback from our stakeholders, we launched the Discretionary Grant Scheme to allow Local Authorities to support businesses which did not meet the criteria for the Small Business Grant Fund or Retail Leisure and Hospitality scheme.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 26/05/2020 16:19:56 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1194930

registered interest
date	12/05/2020
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	Small Businesses: Government Assistance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when Bristol City Council will receive guidance on the top up to local business grants scheme announced on 2 May 2020.
tabling member constituency	Bristol West
tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
uin	46099
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government has announced that up to £617 million is being made available to Local Authorities in England to allow them to provide discretionary grants as part of the suite of Business Support grants supporting businesses and local economies across England. Guidance, intended to support Local Authorities in administering the Discretionary Grants Fund, was published 13<sup>th</sup> May.</p><p>Guidance here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-business-support-grant-funding" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-business-support-grant-funding</a></p><p> </p><p>This will not replace existing guidance for the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF) or the Retail Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF).</p><p>Guidance here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-business-support-grant-funding-guidance-for-businesses" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-business-support-grant-funding-guidance-for-businesses</a></p><p> </p><p>The additional Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund is aimed at small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs but not liable for business rates or rates reliefs. We are asking local authorities to prioritise businesses in shared spaces, regular market traders, small charity properties that would meet the criteria for Small Business Rates Relief, and bed and breakfasts that pay council tax rather than business rates.</p><p> </p><p>Local Authorities are responsible for defining precise eligibility for this fund and may choose to make payments to other businesses based on local economic need, subject to those businesses meeting the specific eligibility criteria. Businesses seeking information should refer to their Local Authority for further information on their discretionary scheme. Businesses already in receipt of the SBGF, RHLGF or Self-employed Income Support Scheme are not eligible.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 21/05/2020 14:22:51 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1190479

registered interest
date	27/04/2020
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	Package Holidays: 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, pursuant to the Answer of 6 April 2020 to Questions HL2882, what steps the package travel sector has agreed to take as a result of Government engagement with that sector on its legal obligations to customers whose holiday or travel has been cancelled as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.
tabling member constituency	Bristol West
tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
uin	40662
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>Sector representatives are aware that the law has not changed in relation to refunds. Businesses in the sector are offering consumers refund credit notes but this must be the choice of the consumer who retains the right to a cash refund.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 05/05/2020 11:13:33 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1189951

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	Energy: Meters
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what (a) financial and (b) practical help he is providing to ensure that (a) people (i) self-isolating and in a (ii) vulnerable or shielded group and (b) other people who use coin-operated energy meters are able to maintain power supply during the lockdown.
tabling member constituency	Bristol West
tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
uin	39824
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The Department reached a voluntary agreement with all domestic energy suppliers to a set of principles to support energy customers impacted by COVID-19. These principles include support for prepayment meter customers, who primarily use electronic tokens, keys or cards to top up their meters. Based on individual circumstances, the support available to prepayment meter customers could include:</p><ul><li>extending discretionary/ friendly credit or sending out a pre-loaded top up card;</li><li>enabling customers to nominate a trusted third party to be able to pick up discretionary credit sent to a shop on their behalf;</li><li>switching smart prepayment meters into credit mode, or extending non-disconnection periods, and;</li><li>taking reasonable steps to contact prepayment customers with advice on what to do in the event of self-isolation.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Many energy suppliers have provided additional support for their customers.</p> answering member constituency Spelthorne answering member printed Kwasi Kwarteng question first answered 04/05/2020 13:50:52 answering member 4134 label Biography information for Kwasi Kwarteng
tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

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

1187292

registered interest
date	23/03/2020
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	Retail Trade: Protective Clothing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that protective equipment is provided for people working in food shops during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Bristol West
tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
uin	33740
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2020 answer text <p>The Government is clear that we must support people in work to follow PHE guidance during the Covid-19 outbreak. We have taken an evidence-based approach to the use of PPE. For people working in supermarkets, based on current evidence, practising good hand hygiene and social distancing is key to minimising the risk of infection.</p><p> </p><p>We are in regular conversations with industry, including the British Retail Consortium and supermarket CEOs, to ensure it is well prepared to deal with a range of scenarios and operations remain in line with the latest health guidance.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 21/04/2020 16:06:07 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1187294

registered interest
date	23/03/2020
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	Retail Trade: 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, what guidance his Department has issued to shop owners on protective measures for front line food retail staff during the Covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Bristol West
tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
uin	33742
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2020 answer text <p>Government is clear that we must support people in work to do the right thing during a Covid-19 outbreak. We are in regular conversations with industry, including the British Retail Consortium and supermarket CEOs, to ensure it is well prepared to deal with a range of scenarios and operations remain in line with the latest health guidance.</p><p> </p><p>We need everyone to do their bit to stop the spread of the virus. We all have a responsibility to keep a distance from others – including while shopping.</p><p> </p><p>Food shops that remain open will be expected to comply with requirements on people to keep a distance from each other. We will continue working closely with supermarkets to help them meet the demand for online deliveries. We’re also working with local authorities to deliver essential items to those who are most vulnerable.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 21/04/2020 08:50:40 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1185675

registered interest
date	17/03/2020
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	Insurance: 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, what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) representatives of the insurance industry on compensation for businesses affected by the outbreak of covid 19.
tabling member constituency	Bristol West
tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
uin	30784
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2020 answer text <p>The Government is well prepared for this type of outbreak. The Department is frequently communicating with business representative organisations, including the Association of British Insurers, to gain current intelligence on Covid-19 and its impact on businesses.</p><p> </p><p>The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Chancellor of the Exchequer are currently working together to take all necessary steps to understand the effect of Covid-19 and to respond.</p><p> </p><p>Last week, the Government confirmed that for those businesses which do have a policy that covers pandemics, the Government’s action is sufficient and will allow businesses to make an insurance claim against their policy.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 30/03/2020 08:18:49 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire