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Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
04 May 2020
Lead MP
Stephanie Peacock
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
Business & Trade
Other Contributors: 38
At a Glance
Stephanie Peacock raised concerns about business, energy and industrial strategy in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Asked whether the Government have collated statistics by region on the number of businesses that have had their coronavirus business interruption loan application approved and rejected, Stephanie Peacock highlighted concerns about the complexity of the application process for loans above £50,000.
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.
Seema Malhotra
Lab Co-op
Feltham and Heston
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.
Andrew Gwynne
Ind
Gorton and Denton
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.
Ed Miliband
Lab
Doncaster North
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.
Alok Sharma
Lab
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.
Chris Green
Con
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.
Alok Sharma
Lab
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.
Craig Williams
Con
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.
Amanda Solloway
Lab
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.
Craig Williams
Con
Asked about support for tourism and hospitality businesses in rural constituencies such as Montgomeryshire, aiming at socially distanced tourism and industry adaptation.
Amanda Solloway
Lab
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.
Andy McDonald
Lab
Middlesbrough and Thornaby East
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.
Amanda Solloway
Lab
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.
Andrew Griffith
Con
Arundel and South Downs
Asked about steps taken by the Department to help the UK space industry support nationwide plans to tackle the covid-19 outbreak.
Amanda Solloway
Lab
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.
Andrew Griffith
Con
Arundel and South Downs
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.
Amanda Solloway
Lab
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.
Edward Leigh
Con
Gainsborough
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.
Kwasi Kwarteng
Con
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.
Edward Leigh
Con
Gainsborough
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.
Kwasi Kwarteng
Con
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.
Laura Farris
Lab
Newbury
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.
Kwasi Kwarteng
Con
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.
Marcus Fysh
Con
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.
Kwasi Kwarteng
Con
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.
Elliot Colburn
Lab
Carshalton and Wallington
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.
Kwasi Kwarteng
Con
Gillingham and Rainham
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.
Rehman Chishti
Con
Gillingham and Rainham
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.
Kwasi Kwarteng
Con
Gillingham and Rainham
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.
Hannah Bardell
SNP
Livingston
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.
Gavin Newlands
SNP
Paisley and Renfrewshire North
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.
Nadhim Zahawi
Con
Stratford-on-Avon
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.
Gavin Newlands
SNP
Paisley and Renfrewshire North
Expresses concern over the effectiveness of the Coronavirus Business Loan Scheme due to overly cautious lenders, specifically mentioning Loganair's difficulties in accessing funds.
Nadhim Zahawi
Con
Stratford-on-Avon
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.
Clive Efford
Lab
Eltham
Asks about steps being taken to prevent businesses from profiteering during shortages of personal protective equipment in health and social care sectors.
Nadhim Zahawi
Con
Stratford-on-Avon
Reiterates that profiteering is unacceptable, mentions actions by the Competition and Markets Authority to address suspected cases, emphasises that most businesses are acting responsibly.
Government Response
Provided updates on the coronavirus business interruption loan scheme (CBILS), including total loans issued and plans for new bounce-back loans. Emphasised discussions with banks and measures to make the scheme more accessible, while acknowledging challenges in some areas. Discusses steps taken against profiteering during PPE shortages, acknowledges actions of the Competition and Markets Authority, mentions ongoing discussions with business representatives.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
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