Covid-19 Heritage and Tourism Sector 2020-04-27

2020-04-27

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Questions & Answers

Q1 Direct Answer
Maria Eagle Lab
Liverpool Walton
Context
The Liverpool visitor economy brought in £3.3 billion last year, supporting numerous businesses and jobs.
Will he undertake to push the Chancellor to extend further the business support he announced to those with a rateable value over £51,000 and to extend help to the self-employed and micro-businesses in the sector?
The hon. Lady is absolutely right about the enormous economic value of the tourism industry— not only in her area, but right across the country. I assure her that we are in regular conversations and dialogue with not only the industry but the Treasury, and those discussions will continue.
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Q2 Direct Answer
Robbie Moore Con
Keighley
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The Keighley and Worth Valley railway is a major tourist attraction in Yorkshire with over 7 million visitors in the last 50 years.
With social distancing restrictions unlikely to be relaxed for a significant time, will the Minister outline what additional support he will consider providing to the heritage railway sector?
The importance of the heritage rail sector was recognised last year when the National Lottery Heritage Fund gave a grant of nearly £800,000 to bring the Keighley and Worth Valley railway back into service for the first time in 25 years. My hon. Friend may wish to apply to the £50 million emergency programme launched by the heritage fund to support the heritage sector through the covid-19 pandemic. He may also want to approach Historic England, which has announced an additional £2 million programme of grants for smaller specialist organisations and projects.
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Q3 Direct Answer
Alex Sobel Lab
Leeds West
Context
The UK tourism sector is greatly exposed to the lockdown and uncertainty about the summer season.
Did the Minister discuss those measures at the G20 meeting? What consideration has he made on introducing them?
I congratulate the hon. Member on his first virtual appearance from the Opposition Front Bench. He raises many important issues. We had a constructive conversation with the G20 tourism Ministers, primarily around the recovery programme. We are continuing the dialogue, both domestically and internationally, on all those issues. Of course, the tourism, hospitality and leisure sector has benefited from additional measures including business rate relief, and we will continue the dialogue with all stakeholders to ensure that the sector is looked after.
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