Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19 Plan B: Tourism Industry

Thursday 6 January 2022 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Laurence Robertson raised concerns about the impact of Plan B advice on the tourism industry.
  • The Minister committed to ongoing dialogue with the Chancellor regarding further support for affected businesses.
  • The Minister highlighted new grants announced by the Chancellor to assist businesses in the tourism sector.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Laurence Robertson Con
Business & Trade
Context

The MP raised concerns about the impact of new rules, including guidance to work from home, on the thriving tourism industry due to reduced social interaction.

Question

What assessment she has made of the effect on the tourism industry of the covid-19 Plan B advice for people to work from home where possible?

Answer from Nigel Huddleston

I thank my hon. Friend for raising the vital tourism sector. He is right that some of the new rules, including the guidance to work from home, can be difficult for the tourism sector, because movement of people and social interaction is pivotal to a thriving tourism industry, but we have committed to provide support and over £35 billion has already been provided to tourism, hospitality and leisure businesses.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response acknowledges the difficulty for the tourism sector without providing specific figures or commitments related to current issues due to Plan B advice.

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Q2 Laurence Robertson Con
Business & Trade
Context

The MP noted that the Chancellor has brought in measures to help affected businesses, but trade is still lower and difficult to assess. He requests further assistance where necessary.

Question

Will my hon. Friend speak to the Chancellor again to see whether any further help can be given where it is necessary?

Answer from Nigel Huddleston

I thank my constituency neighbour again for raising these important points. We have ongoing dialogue with the Chancellor and the Treasury. The new grants the Chancellor announced just before Christmas will be very important in helping the businesses affected. Many will get the grants automatically. I encourage others—perhaps those on the edges of supply chains—that do not get the grants automatically to apply for the additional restrictions grants.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response addresses ongoing dialogue but does not provide a specific commitment to speak with the Chancellor about further help beyond already announced measures.

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Q3 Jeff Smith Lab Manchester Withington
Culture, Media & Sport Business & Trade
Context

The MP mentioned theatres, festivals, and live events being hit by uncertainty around plan B. The live events reinsurance scheme has been ineffective in providing support outside a full national lockdown.

Question

Given the demand that will be caused by the continued uncertainty well into the new year, will the Government urgently review the scheme and repurpose it to give businesses and workers the support they need now?

Answer from Nigel Huddleston

Of course the scheme is really important. We do want to make sure that it works as intended, but it is part of an overall support package for the arts sector, which includes the theatre tax reliefs that were announced prior to Christmas and the all-important culture recovery fund.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response acknowledges the importance of the scheme without committing to urgent review or repurposing it as requested by the MP.

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