Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid 19: Tourism Sector

Thursday 4 June 2020 · 7 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 6 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister established a cultural renewal taskforce with a visitor economy working group to prepare guidance for safe reopening.
  • Government considering proposal for an additional bank holiday in October to boost tourism and economic recovery.
  • Minister committed to working with arts organizations and appointed cultural renewal commissioner to support the sector.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 James Davies Con
Economy Business & Trade
Context

The tourism industry is important to the UK economy and has been affected by the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to help the tourism sector to reopen safely after the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased. The tourism sector is hugely important to the economy, which is why we need specific measures to ensure a safe reopening and recovery.

Answer from Oliver Dowden

The tourism sector is hugely important to the economy, which is why we are meeting regularly with the industry. I have established a cultural renewal taskforce and, within that, a specific visitor economy working group to prepare guidance to help the tourism business reopen safely. As the Prime Minister has said, we have set a very ambitious target to try to get the sector back by 4 July, so long as it is safe to do so, and I am working to make that a reality.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Tim Loughton Con
Employment Business & Trade
Context

Workers in seaside towns are being laid off at a faster rate than other areas of the UK, highlighting the need for additional support.

Question

Figures last month showed that workers in seaside towns were being laid off at the fastest rate of any area in the UK. Will the Secretary of State look at greater flexibilities to allow the hospitality industry to open up sooner, particularly with outside premises; will he lobby the Chancellor to reduce the VAT rate on tourism to 5%; and will he ensure that our great British seaside towns can start to recover by making staycations a practical option? He is very welcome to visit the delights of Worthing for a staycation at any time.

Answer from Oliver Dowden

I thank my hon. Friend for that; I would be delighted to visit Worthing. Indeed, I much prefer British holidays to holidays overseas, so I would be delighted to visit his constituency and others. He is absolutely right to highlight the importance of support for the sector. That is why, for example, we have had extensive support with the job retention scheme. I am working closely with my colleague the Chancellor, and we will be looking at further measures.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Reducing VAT rate on tourism to 5%

How: Working Closely With The Chancellor, Looking At Further Measures

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Cherilyn Mackrory
Employment Business & Trade
Context

Cornwall is heavily reliant on the tourism sector, supporting one in five jobs. The government has provided £444 million to support the area through the pandemic.

Question

Residents in Truro and Falmouth understand how hugely important the tourism sector is to Cornwall. It supports one in five jobs in our county. I thank the Government for the £444 million they have put into Cornwall so far to help us through this pandemic. Will my right hon. Friend assure me that, when it is safe to do so, the Government will join me in promoting Cornwall as a world-class tourist destination and ensure that our businesses can get back on their feet as soon as possible?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

I know that Cornwall is a world-class tourist destination. I spent many happy holidays there as a child and, indeed, have taken my own children there on many occasions. As I said, we are hoping to get tourism back as rapidly as possible, and when it is back we will invest extensively in ensuring that we have a major campaign to encourage British people to take British staycations.

Partly answered

How: Hoping To Get Tourism Back, Invest Extensively

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q4 James Davies Con
Economy Business & Trade
Context

Tourism agency VisitBritain has proposed a bank holiday in October to boost the economy by £500 million.

Question

Tourism agency VisitBritain has proposed a bank holiday this October to help the tourism industry. It has been estimated that that could raise £500 million for the economy. Will the Minister seriously consider that proposal?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

Yes. I thank my hon. Friend for that suggestion. That is an excellent proposal. One of the challenges we will have is getting the sector up and running as strongly as possible in the summer and extending it for as long as we can. This is a matter that I am discussing with my colleague, the Business Secretary.

Partly answered

How: Discussing With The Business Secretary

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q5 Gavin Newlands SNP
Economy Brexit Business & Trade
Context

The tourism industry in Scotland faces challenges due to visa restrictions, no-deal Brexit risks, and the ongoing impact of COVID-19.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree with the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, who warns that the tourism industry, which is already deprived of vital foreign workers due to visa restrictions and which supports more than 200,000 jobs and contributes over £7 billion to the Scottish economy, now faces the double whammy of a no-deal Brexit combined with the ongoing impact of covid-19? Does this not justify a further extension of the job retention scheme to support the sector, and an extension of the transition period to avoid a deeply damaging no-deal scenario, compounding the horrendous coronavirus circumstances?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

We have already extended the job retention scheme through to October. On the hon. Gentleman's point about a further extension of the transition period, I think the British people have been pretty clear about this. They just want us to get on and leave, and we will not be extending again.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Further extension of the transition period

How: British People'S Preference For Leaving

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q6 Chris Bryant Lab Rhondda and Ogmore
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Theatres, art galleries, music venues, and concert halls are struggling due to the pandemic.

Question

Theatres, art galleries, music venues and concert halls are all really struggling, and without culture, we are nothing; our life is nothing and we are not an attraction for international visitors. Will the Secretary of State ensure that the amount of money that has so far been made available is at least doubled? Otherwise, we are simply not going to keep some of these major institutions, whether it is the Parc and Dare Theatre in Treorchy, the Royal Academy in London or the Old Vic. Will he seriously consider the idea of a 5% VAT rate for all arts organisations?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to highlight the rich value of culture both to individuals and to our wider economy in the creative industries. I have been engaging extensively with arts organisations and others. That is why I have appointed Neil Mendoza as a cultural renewal commissioner to come up with proposals in this area.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Doubling funding support for cultural sector

How: Engaging Extensively, Appointing A Commissioner

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q7 Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton
Economy Business & Trade
Context

A constituent has invested in a holiday let business, which is now struggling due to the pandemic.

Question

My constituents, Stuart and Laura McKay, sank their life savings into a holiday let in East Sussex. It was running successfully for a year, then coronavirus arrived. They are on zero income at the moment, and they do not qualify for any of the schemes because they are trading too newly. They ask whether the Government could introduce something to allow holiday lets for homes, to restart the sector, if we are all going to staycation? They say that, because of Dominic Cummings, they are not hopeful, but maybe the Secretary of State can prove them wrong.

Answer from Oliver Dowden

As I have said, I am keen that we get the tourism sector going as rapidly as possible. We have set the ambitious target of 4 July, and if we can do it consistent with public health, we will do so. Self-contained accommodation has a lower risk than other areas, so I would hope that that will be at the front of the queue.

Partly answered

How: Keen To Get Tourism Sector Going, Ambitious Target Set

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)