Extract from oral answer
Lords on the Performing Arts: Job Support Scheme
(CB) [V]: My Lords, the winter economic plan,
including the Job Support Scheme, is bold and will, I hope, save
hundreds of thousands of viable jobs this winter. However, will the
Government acknowledge that the Chancellor’s announcements will not
help everyone, especially when the medium-term outlook for some
sectors, such as hospitality and the creative industries, looks so
uncertain? Do they agree that further business support for these
sectors might be required, including in relation to business rates?
Do they also agree that there is a huge requirement to provide
people with the skills that they need for the jobs of the future?
(Con): My
Lords, the Government have recognised the specific pressure that
certain sectors are under, and extending the 5% VAT cut until the
end of March is one measure that they have taken. We also
recognise that not every job will be saved, and that is why we
have invested £2 billion in the Kickstart jobs
scheme for young people. I believe that my right honourable
friend the Prime Minister is making further announcements on
skills training today.
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Extracts from Business,
Energy and Industrial Strategy questions: Support for Businesses:
Covid-19
(Doncaster North) (Lab): The Secretary of State did
not answer my question about these businesses that are currently
shut down and that are doing the right thing. Many of them have
no income coming in, they are excluded from the JSS and they are
already loaded up with debt, yet they have rent to pay and
overheads to cover, and the Government are just leaving them out
in the cold. I believe these were good, viable businesses before
the pandemic. They were good enough for the Government to support
them back in March, and we need them for our economy after the
crisis is over. Will he stand up for these businesses that need
help and give them the support they need to help at least survive
the crisis?
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy (): Let me assure the right hon. Gentleman that this
Department does stand up for businesses. We have a very regular
dialogue with sectors on an ongoing basis. As I said, I
acknowledge that some of them are facing particular difficulties.
As he himself knows from his time in government, we are not going
to be able to protect every single job—very, very sadly—but that
is why we are providing extra support in the welfare system but
also, really importantly, in support with skills and, indeed,
apprenticeships and the Kickstart scheme for
young people, so that we can help people into better jobs.
(Bristol East) (Lab): I was really disappointed by the answers
the Business Secretary gave to my right hon. Friend the Member
for Doncaster North (). I have global exhibition companies in my
constituency that are on the verge of going bust. They do not
need to be told about the Kickstart scheme or
apprenticeships, or to be told that universal credit is available
for them. These companies are calling for an extension of
business rate relief and a new grant scheme, bearing in mind that
many of them were not eligible for the retail, hospitality and
leisure grant. Will the Secretary of State consider this, and
commit to publishing a provisional date when conferences and
exhibition events can reopen, as has been happening in parts of
Europe? Will he also agree to meet the sector? I have tried
lobbying the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on
this, and I am getting nowhere. Will he pay attention to this
sector?
: As the hon. Lady outlines, this particular sector is
the responsibility of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media
and Sport. However, I have been talking to representatives of the
sector, as have my ministerial team and, as I have said, we will
continue to have such conversations. As I have also said, the
Chancellor set out a significant package of support since the
start of this pandemic, and people are still able to make use of
that support...
