Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Asked what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all firms requiring assistance are able to access the coronavirus business interruption loan scheme. Mentioned RG Millward Ltd in her constituency and welcomed interest-free loans for a year.

Asked about estimates made by his Department of the number of social enterprises that have received coronavirus business interruption loans. Raised concerns that 50% of social enterprises could run out of cash by June without further support, particularly in sectors such as aviation.

Asked what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all firms requiring assistance are able to access the coronavirus business interruption loan scheme. Highlighted difficulties for established and previously profitable businesses in East Devon.

Asked about complications with the CBIL scheme, including high interest rates and difficulties in getting through to banks to apply. Welcomed recent changes but urged urgent sorting of issues to allow small businesses access.

Welcomed Alok Sharma to his new role and asked about draft guidelines on workplace safety, including publication of risk assessments and enforcement. Also questioned the Secretary of State about a second phase of financial support for businesses.

Welcomed Ed Miliband to his new position and inquired whether he agreed with Sir George Mathewson's opinion that the loan schemes will not allow businesses to survive, suggesting conversion into grants instead.

Announced the new vaccines taskforce on 17 April, aiming to expedite efforts to research and produce a coronavirus vaccine. Thanks to UK Government financial support of £20 million, the Oxford vaccine entered clinical trials in humans with 601 participants as of today.

Asked about the collaborative approach to manufacturing vaccines and treatments developed around the world, emphasising that they should be made available both in Britain and globally.

Confirmed the commitment to working with international partners in tackling the pandemic. Announced £388 million from the UK towards a global £8 billion target for research and development into covid-19.

Inquired about support his Department is providing to businesses designing new ways of working to help safely mitigate the effects of the covid-19 outbreak.

Engages with businesses, business representative organisations and unions to get a shared view on how workplaces can be made as safe as possible for when people return to work. Emphasised reliance on science to inform the economy's movement.

Asked about support for tourism and hospitality businesses in rural constituencies such as Montgomeryshire, aiming at socially distanced tourism and industry adaptation.

Responded that the Government will be relying on science to inform them and reaching out across business, industry, and all parts of the United Kingdom to build consensus for a safe return to work.

Critiqued the short timeframe given to trade unions to respond to seven consultation papers on safe return to work, asking for mandatory risk assessments registered with HSE and involvement of workplace health and safety reps.

Reaffirmed engagement with businesses, business representative organisations and unions while also involving Public Health England and the Health and Safety Executive in ensuring workplaces are as safe as possible.

Asked about steps taken by the Department to help the UK space industry support nationwide plans to tackle the covid-19 outbreak.

Acknowledged the role of the UK Space Agency in making £2.6 million available for “close to market” ideas to manage pandemics and exploring how drones can support health services.

Expressed gratitude for Minister's response and agreed on the vital role of investment in the UK space sector for economic growth, confirming programmes like GNSS and Skynet 6 are progressing.

Agreed on the importance of growing the UK space sector to employ people and contribute to the wider economy, highlighting ongoing work with Ministry of Defence for activities under Skynet contract.

Inquired about discussions had by the Department with FSB and other representatives of small businesses on the Government's response to the covid-19 outbreak.

Emphasised ongoing dialogue with key stakeholders representing small businesses, mentioning regular participation in Business Secretary’s twice-weekly calls and engagement with FSB on covid-19 issues.

Suggested broadband enhancement as a long-term solution for rural areas while advocating for easing lockdown measures to allow businesses to operate safely, ensuring economic recovery without risking public health.

Agreed on the importance of getting business back to work but emphasised the necessity of maintaining current lockdown measures to protect lives and avoid risks to public health, economy, and sacrifices made.

Asked about support for businesses in Newbury that specialise in renewable energy, addressing the secondary effect of pandemic on demand for fossil fuel and asking for green and resilient infrastructure support during recovery.

Committed to net zero goals and ongoing development of clean energy, highlighting next year’s fourth round of allocations for contracts for difference and £1.25 billion package for high-growth firms.

Asked about giving local authorities and local enterprise partnerships real-time access to sector-level information on furloughs and redundancies, along with support for ambitious enterprise and incentive schemes.

Agreed on the importance of data flow in dealing with the crisis, offering to meet and discuss specifics with his constituency businesses and raising access issues with relevant officials.

Asked about use of discretionary fund by councils to help businesses not eligible for initial grants such as those in shared offices and park cafés through the pandemic.

Acknowledges the issues faced by businesses in shared workspaces due to high fixed costs like rent, mentions additional funding provided by the Government to support such businesses.

Asks for clarification on help being given to self-employed business owners earning over £50,000 who cannot furlough staff or afford business interruption loans.

Clarifies that the Government prioritised helping as many people quickly as possible by capping self-employment income support, suggests other measures available for those not qualifying directly.

Questions discussions had with the Chancellor regarding financial support for workers ineligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and highlights a constituent's case as an example of such issues.

Asks about discussions with the Chancellor on financial support for ineligible workers, raises concerns over the Coronavirus Business Loan Scheme not working due to lender hesitance.

Responds that the Government prioritised helping as many people quickly by capping self-employment income support, mentions £617 million in discretionary grants for businesses not registered for business rates.

Expresses concern over the effectiveness of the Coronavirus Business Loan Scheme due to overly cautious lenders, specifically mentioning Loganair's difficulties in accessing funds.

Responds that while some may feel the schemes are not working well, improvements have been made and a simpler bounce-back loan scheme has been introduced with faster access to funds.

Asks about steps being taken to prevent businesses from profiteering during shortages of personal protective equipment in health and social care sectors.

Reiterates that profiteering is unacceptable, mentions actions by the Competition and Markets Authority to address suspected cases, emphasises that most businesses are acting responsibly.