Petitions
Tuesday 1 September 2020
Observations
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Entitlement to paid care leave
The petition of residents of Birmingham, Selly Oak Constituency,
Declares that the Employment Rights Act 1996 only provides for a ‘reasonable amount of unpaid time off’ to care for dependents for one-off appointments and emergencies; notes that latest figures show that there are an estimated 5 million people juggling paid work and unpaid care; further that Carers UK research reveals that 2.6 million have quit their job to care for a loved one who is older, disabled or seriously ill with nearly half a million (468,000) leaving their job in the last two years alone; further that the estimated costs to the economy of carers being forced to give up work to care had reached £5.3 billion in lost tax revenues, earnings and additional benefit payments.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to introduce a statutory entitlement to paid care leave of 5 to 10 days per year.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Steve McCabe, Official Report, 10 June 2020; Vol. 677, c. 364.]
[P002576]
Observations from the Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Paul Scully):
The Government recognise the vital role that carers play within their families and communities and their contribution both to individuals they care for and to society at large is of great importance now and under normal circumstances.
The Government are committed to supporting carers in a way that supports their own health and wellbeing in the longer term.
Work is ongoing to investigate the impact of care on work, including the issue of carers relying on annual leave. For example, we run the annual Family Resources Survey which gives us an insight into the situation of informal carers and the people they care for. The most recent results of this survey are published online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/family-resources-survey--2#latest-release.
Government officials regularly meet with carer representative organisations. We know that many carers experience considerable challenges, balancing employment with their caring responsibilities. That is why, as set out in our manifesto and the Queen’s Speech, the Government are considering the introduction of a new employment right to one week of additional leave for unpaid carers. The consultation on this new employment right closed on 2 August and received over 800 responses—demonstrating the importance of this issue. We are analysing those responses and will issue the Government response in due course, setting out the way forward.
The Government are also considering other steps to reform employment law, which it is hoped could make the situations of carers a little easier in future.
The ability to work flexibly can be particularly helpful to carers and other groups in the labour market. All employees who have worked for more than 26 weeks with their employer can already request flexible working under the existing statutory right. We are keen to do more to make flexible working the norm. The Government have set out that, subject to further consultation, we will look to introduce measures to make flexible working the default.
We are actively monitoring the impact of covid-19 on the labour market and will continue to monitor this moving forward, considering whether there are any disproportionate impacts occurring to individual groups, which can include carers, across the labour market.
Extension of paid maternity leave due to COVID-19
The petition of residents of the constituency of Belfast East,
Declares that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on and has led to increased cases of social isolation, and that new mothers on maternity leave have been particularly affected.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to extend paid maternity leave by three months.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Gavin Robinson, Official Report, 21 July 2020; Vol. 678, c. 2119.]
[P002591]
Extension to maternity and paternity leave due to COVID-19
The Petition of residents of the United Kingdom,
Declares that pregnancy and giving birth during a global pandemic and national lockdown is extremely stressful for new and expectant parents; notes that the UK Government has categorised pregnant woman as “extremely vulnerable” and advised them to observe particularly stringent measures to protect themselves and their unborn babies; further notes that new research is actively being undertaken regarding raised levels of mental health problems for expectant and new mothers and fathers during the COVID-19 pandemic; notes that early experiences of a baby are critical for their future development and future outcomes, and that new parents need time to ‘socialise’ with their babies and introduce them to nursery or other childcare provision; declares that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a hugely adverse effect on early life experiences for new babies in that it has deprived them of their parents’ opportunities to expose their babies to wider developmental experiences outside the home, including experience with wider family such as grandparents; and further notes that the Government has made specific arrangements to protect workers with its Job Retention Scheme but has not made additional arrangements to offer further support to workers on maternity and paternity leave during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the UK Government to immediately institute extended maternity and paternity leave for new and expectant parents.
And the petitioners remain etc.—[Presented by David Linden, Official Report, 22 June 2020; Vol. 677, c. 1114.]
[P002580]
Extension to maternity and paternity leave due to COVID-19
The Petition of residents of the United Kingdom,
Declares that pregnancy and giving birth during a global pandemic and national lockdown is extremely stressful for new and expectant parents; notes that the UK Government has categorised pregnant woman as “extremely vulnerable” and advised them to observe particularly stringent measures to protect themselves and their unborn babies; further notes that new research is actively being undertaken regarding raised levels of mental health problems for expectant and new mothers and fathers during the COVID-19 pandemic; notes that early experiences of a baby are critical for their future development and future outcomes, and that new parents need time to ‘socialise’ with their babies and introduce them to nursery or other childcare provision; declares that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a hugely adverse effect on early life experiences for new babies in that it has deprived them of their parents’ opportunities to expose their babies to wider developmental experiences outside the home, including experience with wider family such as grandparents; and further notes that the Government has made specific arrangements to protect workers with its Job Retention Scheme but has not made additional arrangements to offer further support to workers on maternity and paternity leave during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the UK Government to immediately institute extended maternity and paternity leave for new and expectant parents.
And the petitioners remain etc.—[Presented by Patricia Gibson, Official Report, 15 June 2020; Vol. 677, c. 610.]
[P002575]
Observations from the Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Paul Scully):
The Government understand and are sympathetic to the challenges that pregnant women and new parents faced during the covid-19 lockdown period. Parents play a hugely valuable role in society, carrying out the important and often demanding job of raising the next generation.
We recognise that the covid-19 lockdown period had a significant impact on parents’ ability to “socialise” their babies—whether through visits to family and friends or attendance at parent and baby groups—and that some parents were unable to return to work at the end of their statutory parental leave due to the close of early years provision. While we understand that some new parents have faced additional challenges due to covid-19 and lockdown, we believe that the current arrangements for parental leave and pay in the UK are, overall, already generous and flexible. We offer more than three times the EU minimum requirement for Maternity Leave which requires Member States to give pregnant women and new mothers access to 14 weeks of paid leave (the UK provides 39 weeks of paid leave). The vast majority of parents also have access to other entitlements to time off work, including paid Annual Leave and Unpaid Parental Leave. The Government believe that our current package of family-friendly entitlements, alongside these other entitlements, enables most mothers and fathers to balance work with their caring responsibilities in the first year of their child’s life—including in these unprecedented times.
The decision to lockdown was not taken lightly but this was necessary to protect our NHS and save lives, including those of parents and their babies. We are pleased that as a result of the interventions that the Government made, the incidence of covid-19 infections has come down significantly and we have been able to relax many of the social distancing measures that we had put in place. These relaxations have meant nurseries and other early years facilities have been able to open up since June and most parents are now able to meet with extended family members and friends, subject to observing the continuing advice on social distancing.
The Government have necessarily prioritised initiatives during the covid-19 crisis which had the potential to support as many people as possible. This support includes:
the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme,
the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, and
the Job Retention Bonus for employers who retain staff until January 2021.
Employers have also been able to use the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to furlough parents who have been unable to work as a result of the closure of schools, nurseries and childcare services. The ability to furlough individuals who are unable to work because of childcare commitments provides support to new parents who are due to return from statutory parental leave, including individuals who have not previously been furloughed as a result of them being on parental leave. The scheme closed for new entrants on 30 June, but we have made an exception for individuals on statutory parental leave.
The Petitions Select Committee has done an admirable job in looking into a range of issues that have had an impact on new parents during the pandemic, from childcare to mental health and wellbeing. We are currently considering the full suite of recommendations that they have to Government, which includes recommendations to extend Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Leave and Pay to support parents who have been affected by the pandemic. We are carefully considering these recommendations with a view to providing a comprehensive response as soon as possible ahead of the Committee’s September deadline.
Please note that I have written to David Linden MP and Gavin Robinson MP in the same terms.
Education
Return of children to schools in September
The Petition of residents of the United Kingdom,
Declares that children must be at the heart of government strategy as lockdown eases; notes that research has shown that home-schooling has been inconsistent across the country during lockdown, with disadvantaged children faring particularly poorly; and further declares that the best place for students is in the classroom, as schools provide consistency, social interaction, stimulating learning environments and promote good health and wellbeing.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to work together with head teachers, parent bodies, unions and local authorities to devise a plan by 13 July to safely resume education in September so that all children can return to school.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Munira Wilson, Official Report, 23 June 2020; Vol. 677, c. 1273.]
[P002582]
Observations from the Minister for School Standards (Nick Gibb):
It is the Government’s plan for all children to return to school in September. We want to get all children and young people back into education because it is the best place for them to learn, and because we know how important it is for their wellbeing to have social interactions with their teachers and friends. We have published guidance to support schools to prepare for full return, including the “system of controls” they should implement to significantly reduce the risk of transmission.
From 1 June, the Department was able to take the first steps towards getting all children and young people back into education. We asked primary schools to bring back nursery, reception, year 1 and year 6 from this date. We subsequently gave primary schools the flexibility to welcome back more pupils, where they have capacity. From 15 June we supported secondary schools to bring back pupils in years 10 and 12. This is in addition to the education schools have continued to provide to vulnerable children and the children of critical workers throughout the coronavirus (covid-19) outbreak. Last term, 1.6 million pupils have already been welcomed back to school. Schools have also been able to bring in all pupils for face-to-face meetings during the summer term to check-up on their education and wellbeing.
It is our plan that all pupils, in all year groups, will return to school full-time from the beginning of the autumn term. On 2 July the Department published guidance to help school leaders prepare for the autumn term, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools. Returning to school is vital for children’s education and for their wellbeing. Time out of school is detrimental for children’s cognitive and academic development, particularly for disadvantaged children. This impact can affect both current levels of education and children’s future ability to learn, and therefore we need to ensure all pupils can return to school in September.
To support schools in helping pupils make up for time spent out of the classroom, we have announced a catch-up fund worth £1 billion. Through this fund, in the next academic year, all state-funded primary and secondary schools in England will receive a share of the £650 million catch-up premium. School leaders have discretion to use this additional funding to meet the identified needs of their pupils and to help them plug gaps in curriculum knowledge resulting from extended school closures. The Education Endowment Foundation has published a guide on evidence-based interventions to support schools to make decisions about how to spend their funding. Alongside this the £350 million National Tutoring Programme will provide extra support for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, who will be among those hardest hit by the disruption to education.
We are extremely grateful for how schools have adapted so rapidly to new ways of working by moving resources online, working remotely and changing the way they support their students and each other. As we go into the autumn term, we expect all schools to plan to ensure they have the capacity to offer immediate remote education if a number of pupils need to self-isolate or there is a local lockdown requiring pupils to remain at home.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Establishment of a Food Standards Commission
The Petition of residents of the United Kingdom,
Declares that the UK Government has not put proper safeguards in place to protect food standards post the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union; notes that the Government has rejected cross party amendments to the Agricultural Bill that aimed to protect standards of imports and ensure that any imports would not be able to undercut UK producers; further notes that leaving the European Union without a deal on 31 December 2020 will mean trading on World Trade Organisation (WTO) terms, and that the most favoured nation status will mean that the UK cannot prevent the import of hormone injected beef or chlorinated chicken from the US; further notes that the consumer group Which? has stated that a US trade deal poses the biggest risk to food standards since the BSE crisis and notes that the current deals struck by the EU provide the necessary protections; further declares that an extension to the transition period would create a short term protection against low standard imports, and that a Food Standards Commission with the remit of ensuring quality and welfare standards of food and drink imports in any trade deals could provide longer term protections for our farmers and growers in Scotland and the wider UK.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to consider the establishment of a Food Standards Commission to monitor any trade deals involving food and drink products and to protect UK welfare standards and value our farmers and growers who produce in Scotland and the wider UK.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Alan Brown, Official Report, 18 June 2020; Vol. 677, c. 1050.]
[P002581]
Petitions in the same terms were presented by the hon. Member for North Ayrshire and Arran (Patricia Gibson) [P002583] and the hon. Member for Glasgow East (David Linden) [P002588].
Observations from the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Victoria Prentis):
Thank you very much for these petitions and raising the issue of the protection of food standards and the establishment of a Food Standards Commission.
This Government stood on a very clear manifesto commitment that in all of our trade negotiations, we will not compromise on our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards. Any trade deal the UK strikes must be fair to our farmers and we will continue to fight for the interests of our farming industry in all trade negotiations. The Government have also been clear that we will not be extending the transition period: we need to be able to design our own rules, in our best interests, without the constraints of following EU rules.
Legal protections for our standards will remain in place. The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 retains our standards on environmental protections, animal welfare, animal and plant health and food safety at the end of the transition period. This provides a firm basis for maintaining the same high level of protection for both domestic and imported products. These requirements include prohibitions on the use of growth-promoting hormone treatments, and the sale of products derived from animals treated with them and set out that no products (other than potable water) are approved to decontaminate poultry carcasses. Any changes to legislation would require these to be brought to Parliament, and in the case of devolved competence, the devolved legislatures where the usual scrutiny procedures will apply.
The UK’s food standards for both domestic production and imports are overseen by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS). These agencies provide independent advice to the UK Government and the devolved Administrations. Risk impact assessments provided by the FSA and FSS use a science-driven approach and take account of animal welfare and environmental production standards, as well as other issues of consumer interest. After the end of the transition period, the FSA and FSS will continue to oversee food safety to ensure that all food imports comply with the UK’s high safety standards.
Alongside this the UK will repatriate the functions of audit and inspections that are currently carried out by the European Commission to ensure that trading partners continue to meet our import conditions for food and feed safety, animal and plant health and animal welfare. This will provide a robust system that will work alongside border controls to maintain our high standards going forward. Carrying these provisions over into domestic legislation will ensure that trading partners have the necessary infrastructure and regulations in place to export safe food and animal products to the UK which either meet or exceed UK import conditions.
The Government have been clear that in our trade agreements we will not compromise on our standards. In leaving the EU, the UK regained sovereign control over decisions on standards and regulations. Any future trade agreements must respect this regulatory autonomy, so we can continue to protect the public, animal and plant life and health, reflecting our existing high standards. We want to negotiate an ambitious and comprehensive free trade deal with the US. We will not water down our standards nor put the UK’s biosecurity at risk as we negotiate this or any other new trade deals.
As an independent trading nation, the UK will recognise global rules on trade alongside ensuring that trade agreements live up to the values of farmers and consumers across the UK. World Trade Organization (WTO) rules allow for the adoption of measures on public policy grounds such as protecting human, animal and plant life or health, public morals and conservation. This is subject to caveats, including that these measures do not create obstacles or arbitrarily discriminate between Members and are not disguised restrictions on international trade.
In addition to the commitments of this Government and robust legal protections outlined, we are pleased to confirm that we have recently established a Trade and Agriculture Commission, to operate under Department for International Trade auspices.
In its advisory role, the Commission brings together stakeholders across the industry, using their expertise to advise on how best the UK can seize new export opportunities, while ensuring animal welfare and environmental standards in food production are not undermined. It will provide advice to inform our approach as we negotiate free trade deals and promote our agenda at the WTO and other international fora, and to advance and protect consumer interests and those of developing countries.
The membership covers a cross-section of representatives across agriculture, consumer, animal health, international development, hospitality, food SMEs and retail. There are representatives from all parts of the UK, including the farmers’ unions. The Commission’s Secretariat will also share updates from Commission meetings with the devolved Administrations on a regular basis.
At the end of its fixed six-month term, the Commission will submit an advisory report, to be presented to Parliament by the Department for International Trade, which:
A. Considers the policies that Government should adopt in free trade agreements to secure opportunities for UK farmers, ensure the sector remains competitive and to make sure that animal welfare and environmental standards in food production are not undermined
B. Reflects consumer interests and those of developing countries.
C. Considers how the UK engages the WTO to build a coalition that helps advance higher animal welfare standards across the world.
D. Develops trade policy that identifies and opens up new export opportunities for the UK agricultural industry—in particular for small and medium-sized businesses—and that benefits the UK economy as a whole.
We are pleased that stakeholders have welcomed this announcement, and further details on the Commission’s membership and work can be found on the Department for International Trade’s webpages.
Thank you once again for these petitions and raising this important issue.
Use of disposable barbecues
The Petition of Kate Collison and Janette Duke, residents of the New Forest District in Hampshire,
Declares that the use of disposable barbecues and their careless abandonment are a proven cause of wild fires; further declares that such wild fires not only risk human life but also cause devastation to wildlife and their habitat; notes that single use disposable barbecues comprise a tin foil tray filled with impregnated ‘easy light’ charcoal with a wire mesh over; further notes that they are lightweight, can easily be carried to beauty spots, wildlife reserves, and beaches, and can be purchased for as little as £1.99 per unit; further notes they have no integral frame support so can be sat directly on the ground causing damage once lit; further notes they emit dangerous carbon monoxide fumes not only during use but also during the cooling process; further notes that whilst they are easy to carry prior to use they are almost impossible to carry away for many hours after use whilst they remain hot, meaning they are often left as litter with devastating consequences; further notes reports that fire services across the country have shown that these abandoned barbecues have been found in the areas where devastating fires have occurred, for example, Wareham Forest, which in May 2020, despite the efforts of 150 firefighters, burned for more than 3 days and devastated 470 acres of heath and woodland, with 11 portable barbecues subsequently found in the burn area; further notes that Chinese sky lanterns, which can pose a similar threat to wildlife and their habitat, were once seen as acceptable but are now recognised as irresponsible and dangerous; and further notes the related Change.org petitions on this matter from the same petitioners, which collectively have over 9,000 signatures.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to consider a ban on the sale of single use disposable barbecues within the United Kingdom.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Dr Julian Lewis, Official Report, 30 June 2020; Vol. 678, c. 291.]
[P002585]
Observations from the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Rebecca Pow):
The Government would like to thank Kate Collison and Janette Duke, residents of the New Forest, for their petition urging the Government to consider a ban on the sale of single use disposable barbecues within the United Kingdom.
The Government share the concern of the petitioners about the careless use of disposable barbeques, and the associated risk of wildfires and threat to wildlife and the natural environment.
The Countryside Code, published by Natural England, includes clear messages not to have barbecues or light fires when outdoors in the countryside. It can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code/the-countryside-code
Defra is working with rural organisations to promote a series of guidance videos to educate users about accessing the countryside safely. These reinforce messages in the Countryside Code and highlight the risks of using barbecues. These videos are disseminated over social media, including Twitter and Facebook.
In terms of legal powers, current byelaw legislation allows for local authorities to restrict and enforce the use of disposable barbecues in parks and public spaces. The Government are aware that some local authorities have already made use of byelaws to ban disposable barbecues or sky lanterns.
The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides powers for local authorities to introduce Public Spaces Protection Orders. Orders can be introduced in a specific public place where the local authority is satisfied on reasonable grounds that certain conditions have been met. These require that:
Activities have taken place that have had a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality, or it is likely that activities will take place and that they will have a detrimental effect.
The effect or likely effect of these activities;
Is or is likely to be persistent or continuing in nature
Is, or is likely to be, unreasonable
Justifies the restrictions being imposed.
Providing these tests are met, these powers can be used to introduce orders on the use of disposable barbecues.
Justice
Petition of Giovanni Di Stefano
The petition of Giovanni Di Stefano,
Declares that the petitioner is currently imprisoned at HMP Highpoint, Stradishall, Suffolk CB8 9YG and is a national of the Republic of Italy, born on the 1 July 1955; the petitioner is serving a sentence of 14 years imprisonment from 28 March 2013 and such sentence ends on the 27 March 2020 or under the early release scheme on the 27 June 2019; the petitioner is however, also subject to a 3 year default sentence for a confiscation order imposed on the 22 April 2014; however, that order and default was solely on the basis of “hidden assets”; further the House of Commons will be alarmed to know that under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and all its subsequent amendments in the past 16 years the House of Commons never added “hidden assets” as a finding; further, the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 remains wholly silent on such a term or finding; the term and imposition of imprisonment for “hidden assets” was created by the Judiciary who are not elected law making members of parliament; the term commenced in 2006 and no political challenge has ever been taken; Parliament has no legislative superior; further that the courts have no inherent powers to invalidate, strike down, supersede, disregard, add or amend the provisions of any statute duly enacted by the Queen in Parliament, and indeed extremely limited power to even enquire whether a statute has been duly enacted; the judiciary in adding/amending the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 by adding “hidden assets” have usurped the functions of Parliament and thousands of citizens are suffering imprisonment as a direct result.
The petitioners thus requests that the House of Commons urges first and foremost that the Secretary of State for Justice orders the immediate release of anyone currently imprisoned as a result of a finding of “hidden assets” and that any defendant in confiscation proceedings are not subject to future arbitrary and unlawful detention founded upon the Judiciary creating a law without the sanction of Parliament.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Sir Roger Gale, Official Report, 21 November 2018; Vol. 649, c. 2P.]
[P002297]
Observations from the Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Chris Philp):
Under the separation of powers doctrine, a core function of Parliament is to make legislation which will then be interpreted and applied by the judiciary.
Ministers of the Crown have a statutory obligation to uphold the independence of the judiciary. It is therefore inappropriate for the Secretary of State for Justice or me to comment on judgments made in court. If parties to proceedings wish to challenge judgments that have been made, the appropriate way to do so is through the right of appeal.
Transport
Future of the aviation and aerospace industry
The petition of residents of Glasgow North,
Declares that job losses at British Airways, Rolls-Royce and across the aviation and aerospace industry will be a devastating blow to employees of these firms and will cause major economic damage to the whole of the UK; supports the early intervention by the Scottish Government in removing the business rates liability for one year and urges the UK Government to follow suit.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to secure a sustainable future for the aviation industry, to ensure that urgent discussions take place between relevant ministers and these firms to protect the maximum number of jobs, and to ensure that workers play a full role in the decisions being taken about this industry.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Patrick Grady, Official Report, 21 July 2020; Vol. 678, c. 2119.]
[P002590]
Observations from the Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Kelly Tolhurst):
The Government recognise the challenging times facing the aviation sector as a result of covid-19. Aviation plays a critical role to our future as a global trading nation and for local economies such as that in the constituency of Glasgow North. Additionally, we recognise that this will be a very distressing time for employees of British Airways, Rolls-Royce and across the aviation and aerospace industry, as well as for their families and for local communities that are supported by the industry.
The aviation sector is able to draw upon the unprecedented package of measures announced by the Chancellor, including a Bank of England scheme for firms to raise capital, Time to Pay flexibilities with tax bills, financial support for employees and VAT deferrals. These measures have been designed to ensure that companies of any size receive the help they need to get through this difficult time—airports, airlines and the wider supply chain.
We have kept an open dialogue with the aviation and aerospace sectors with regular structured engagement from the start of the pandemic with unions and industry bodies such as ADS, Airport Operators Association and Airlines UK as well as with individual airlines, airports, ground handlers and manufacturers. We are also acutely aware of the impact on the aviation workforce and we are actively working with unions and industry to make sure we identify opportunities to retain key skills within the industry, or ensure they are able to find new employment or retrain and upskill as necessary.
The Department for Transport has established a Restart and Recovery unit to work directly with the sector, initially focusing on the immediate practicalities of restarting the sector and setting a clear vision and objectives looking forward to the longer-term recovery phase. This work has been guided by the International Aviation Taskforce’s Expert Steering Group, a collaborative working group with representation from across industry and Government, including the devolved Administrations. Through this group we have developed safer travel guidance for operators and passengers, published on 11 June 2020. The Expert Steering Group has also recently established subgroups which bring together expert parties to consider urgently how specific measures could address the exceptional short-term sector financial challenges facing the industry in the context of latest trends and outlook.
Treasury
Support for island communities affected by COVID-19
The Petition of residents of the United Kingdom,
Declares that the economic fortunes and sustainability of island communities across the UK, such as the Isle of Arran and the Isle of Cumbrae, are more precarious than mainland communities, not least because of the higher number of older people in such communities; further declares that, despite welcome support from the United Kingdom and devolved governments, lockdown has been particularly challenging for island communities; notes that the exiting of lockdown for islands has to be slower than on mainland communities as ferry capacity must be restricted to ensure social distancing, with capacity expected to be initially limited to less than 20 per cent on some routes, presenting an unprecedented economic threat for island economies and leaving them at a disadvantage to the rest of the mainland UK; further notes that island communities are heavily reliant on tourism, levels of which have been significantly reduced by lockdown measures; further notes the impact that redundancies in the tourism industry will have on islands such as Arran, where one resort, the Auchrannie resort, employs 171 people from a total island population of 4,600; and further declares that as the Government prepares to reduce support in September for furloughed workers, fragile island communities will be particularly affected by mass redundancies and unemployment.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the UK Government to bring forward special measures to support island economies, including a furlough extension specifically for island communities.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Patricia Gibson, Official Report, 10 June 2020; Vol. 677, c. 364.]
[P002577]
Observations from the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Jesse Norman):
The Government thank Patricia Gibson for submitting the petition.
The Government recognise the difficulties faced by island communities during the covid-19 pandemic, and have taken action to support these communities and the tourism industry more broadly.
In March 2020, the Government introduced social distancing and ordered the closure of certain sectors in order to save lives and protect the NHS’s ability to cope with the crisis. The Government recognise the extreme disruption these necessary actions to combat covid-19 have had on businesses in the hospitality and tourism sectors. That is why the Government have announced unprecedented support for individuals and businesses, including targeted support to protect the 2.4 million jobs and over 150,000 businesses across these sectors. Government schemes include:
Grant schemes such as the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund, the Discretionary Grant Fund, the Kick-starting Tourism Package and Reopening High Streets Safely Fund.
A new reduced rate of VAT for accommodation, eligible food and non-alcoholic beverages services and tourist attractions from 20% to 5% until 12 January 2021.
A range of Government-backed and guaranteed loan schemes including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the Bounce Back Loans Scheme.
In certain cases, businesses in retail, hospitality and leisure sectors may further be eligible for a business rates holiday for the 2020-21 tax year.
As part of the Government’s road map to reopening the economy, the majority of sectors have been allowed to return from 4 July, if not before, on condition that they can do so safely in accordance with public guidance.
However, the Government recognise that island communities may be facing particular challenges, including the issue of ferry capacity, that make it harder for businesses to benefit fully from the reopening and from some of the support schemes. Public safety remains the top priority and it is right to take action that helps contain the virus and save lives.
To this end, the Government have taken action to alleviate pressure on ferry and freight services, for example by announcing on 24 April 2020 emergency funding of up to £10.5 million for lifeline ferry and freight services to the Isle of Wight and the Scilly Isles. The funding—agreed jointly by the Department for Transport and the Treasury— has supported the continuation of crucial passenger ferries to the Isle of Wight as well as sea and air links to the Isles of Scilly during the course of the covid-19 emergency. Government officials are now working with local stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition to restart and recovery for the lifeline services of the Isle of Wight and Isles of Scilly. Department for Transport officials continue to monitor lifeline services across the UK and liaise closely with devolved Administrations on the support the Government provide in England. However, Scottish ferries are devolved, and the larger Hebrides and Northern Isles services are supported by Public Service Obligation (PSO) subsidies which support a “road-equivalent tariff” scheme for passengers. The UK Government are applying the Barnett formula in the normal way on all funding in relation to covid-19, and to date the Scottish Government have received over £3.5 billion in Barnett consequentials. As support for the Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Wight is being funded from existing Department for Transport budgets, the devolved Administrations have already received their Barnett consequentials on this funding.
So far, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has helped 1.2 million employers across the UK furlough 9.6 million jobs, protecting people’s livelihoods (as at midnight 9 August 2020), at a value of £34.7 billion. Accommodation and food service employers alone have furloughed over 1.6 million jobs at a claim value of £4.1 billion. As we now begin to reopen the economy, it is right that state support is slowly reduced and the focus shifts to getting furloughed employees back to work. It is the case that some firms will be affected by coronavirus for longer than others, and the Government will seek to support these firms appropriately. To provide additional support to firms to retain employees as demand returns, the Government have introduced the Job Retention Bonus, a one-off payment of £1,000 to employers for each employee who was ever furloughed, has been continuously employed until 31 January 2021 and is still employed by the same employer as of 31 January 2021.
Where firms make the decision that they cannot retain all of their staff over the longer run, the Government are ensuring that those looking for work are supported through:
A package of measures in the Plan for Jobs to help people find work by significantly increasing support offered through Jobcentres and providing individualised advice through the National Careers Service.
The Kickstart Scheme, a £2 billion fund to create hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people.
Temporary welfare measures announced in March including: £20 per week increase to the UC standard allowance and Working Tax Credit basic element, and a nearly £1 billion increase in support for renters through increases to the Local Housing Allowance rates for UC and Housing Benefit claimants.
During this difficult time the Treasury will continue to work closely with employers, delivery partners, industry groups and other Government Departments in order to understand and address the long-term effects of covid-19 and the challenges it poses to the wider economy.