Live Events and Weddings: Covid-19 Support — [James Gray in the Chair]

Andrew Selous requested an extension of provisions allowing deathbed weddings to cover cases where close relatives are terminally ill. He also highlighted the difficulties faced by wedding venues that did not receive business support grants, and called for fairer cancellation policies regarding wedding fees. Additionally, he raised concerns about the lack of bespoke support for the exhibition industry during lockdowns. Suggested allowing a five-person event if attendees include siblings or parents who are terminally ill.

Noting Newcastle's renowned night-time economy, Catherine McKinnell highlighted the importance of preserving venues such as World Headquarters club and called for flexibility in the local restrictions support grant to help businesses survive. She warned that without support, Newcastle would lose a part of its character and history. Intervened to highlight the uncertainty faced by couples planning weddings under current restrictions, stressing the need for clarity from the Government about future guidelines and insurance coverage issues. Many couples have lost their wedding dates and are not receiving discounts for rescheduled events, causing significant heartache.

Mr Hendry congratulated petitioners and MPs on securing the debate. He highlighted common themes discussed by other Members, including the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on the wedding industry and nightlife economy in Scotland. The average cost of a Scottish wedding is £20,000, affecting tens of thousands of businesses in the supply chain. Many freelancers in these industries have been excluded from support despite multiple calls for assistance. He urged the Minister to provide solutions for these struggling businesses.

Stunning wedding venues in Eddisbury are part of a £10 billion industry employing over 400,000 people. The reduction to 15 attendees on September 22 resulted in the cancellation of up to 20,000 weddings and loss of revenues ranging from £450 million to £600 million. In my constituency's Boutique Hotel Group, 432 weddings were cancelled with losses of £7.8 million in sales and £3.7 million in net income. The wedding industry needs targeted support through financial aid, inclusion in test and trace systems, and a roadmap that leads towards normal weddings.

Arbitrary rules led to inconsistencies such as allowing up to 60 guests in a smaller restaurant but only 15 guests at larger wedding venues. David Irlam and Jacqui Mooney highlighted the financial hardship caused by postponed or cancelled weddings, with one business seeing its income drop to less than one sixth of pre-pandemic levels. Asked the Minister to look into a pilot scheme proposed by one of her constituents and suggested having a Zoom meeting with that constituent.

Asked Members to restrict their speeches to roughly three minutes each due to the large number of speakers.

Live events, conferences, and wedding venues have been significantly affected by the virus. One such venue has lost £1 million in turnover due to cancellations and rearrangements. The MP suggests adopting Northern Ireland's approach of allowing venues to produce their own risk assessments for event numbers based on social distancing guidelines.

Julian Knight discussed the impact of job cuts at venues such as the National Exhibition Centre in his constituency. He mentioned one golf club that lost almost half a million pounds in wedding business, illustrating the financial strain on events businesses. Knight also called for bespoke sector-specific support for live events to help them prepare to reopen with clear timelines.

The emphasis on business grants for those with premises led to many freelancers or self-employed in the wedding and live events sectors being denied financial support. The Government's failure to include these individuals after eight months of restrictions is unacceptable, as they have been trading without entitlement to any support. Madders highlighted how weddings saw rapid changes in guest numbers from 30 to 15 within two weeks, questioning the logic behind such decisions and their impact on businesses and constituents.

Bradley focused on wedding venues in her constituency that have suffered from restrictions. She highlighted bespoke venues like Heaton House Farm and The Ashes, which do not benefit from grants due to their high rateable values or lack of turnover. She urged the Minister to meet with these businesses to find ways to support them. Proposed considering the extension of drinking-up time after 10 pm to allow for staggered meal service and reduced venue exit times.

The hon. Member discussed the impact of Covid-19 on live events and weddings, highlighting that these sectors were thriving before the pandemic, supporting millions of jobs across the country. She noted significant financial impacts since the first lockdown, including a 90% decline in Manchester's night-time economy and numerous wedding cancellations. The speaker called for more support from the government, pointing out that many businesses did not qualify for cash grants or furlough schemes due to eligibility criteria. Lucy Powell emphasised the need for a route map out of closure and urged the Minister to work with industry experts to develop sensible guidance on safe operation.

Focused on the impact of wedding restrictions on businesses in her constituency, calling for greater certainty regarding the roadmap to reopening venues and events. Emphasized the importance of moving towards living with the virus rather than complete shutdowns.

The weddings industry supports 400,000 jobs and generates £14.7 billion in income annually. Many workers, predominantly women, have lost their savings and cannot access universal credit or other support schemes due to the pandemic's impact on their livelihoods.

Rebecca Long-Bailey highlighted the financial hardship faced by the live events and weddings sector due to the pandemic. She mentioned that over 3 million individuals are excluded from any Government business support, according to ExcludedUK. She also cited examples of venues like Ordsall Hall and Salford Lads Club within her constituency struggling with closures or limited capacity operation.

In Clwyd South, 105 constituents signed an e-petition for additional support for live events and 91 for increasing wedding guest numbers. The arbitrary limit of 15 or 30 guests is economically unviable and not reflective of European standards. Venues need better access to financial support and clarity on future regulations due to the high advance booking period, often up to 18 months.

Live events and weddings are crucial for North East Fife's economy, contributing significantly through local suppliers and tourism. Kinkell Byre, a wedding venue, faces operational challenges due to current guidelines that prevent revenue generation despite having the capacity to operate safely with larger numbers of guests.