Tag: Speeches

Paul Scully – 2021 Statement on Covid-19 Business Regulatory Easements

The statement made by Paul Scully, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, in the House of Commons on 19 July 2021.

The challenges faced by the UK, and other countries across the world, since the pandemic began have been substantial and many businesses have experienced unprecedented disruption. In the face of the threat of the virus the Government acted rapidly to provide support to protect businesses, individuals and public services across the UK, and have adapted their economic response as the pandemic has evolved. Our plan for jobs has supported jobs and businesses with over £400 billion of economic support, from generous employment support schemes to tax cuts, deferrals, loan schemes and cash grants.

Alongside financial support, the Government took the extraordinary step of temporarily relaxing a wide range of rules and regulations to make it easier for businesses to continue working through the disruption caused by covid-19. These easements cover a variety of areas, including capacity market easements, competition, and the suspension of liability for wrongful trading, among others.

As we have successfully progressed through the stages of the road map we have reduced many of the restrictions that have been in place over the last 15 months. And the progress we have made on the road map means that many of the rules that were relaxed can be reinstated.

While the phenomenal vaccine roll-out has offered every adult some protection against the virus, and the crucial link between cases, hospitalisations and deaths is weakened, the global pandemic is not over yet, and cases are currently rising across the UK. This means that vigilance must be maintained and people will be asked to continue to act carefully to manage the risks to themselves and others. There will still be high levels of infection and illness and therefore disruption to lives, businesses and the economy.

We are therefore retaining or extending some of the regulatory easements. This is necessary where they continue to provide flexibility to businesses while they feel ongoing impacts from covid-19, including on workforce absences, and where relaxed rules will enable them to recover, helping to reinvigorate the high street and boost consumption.

We will be publishing the details on the easements that will expire or be retained on www.gov.uk shortly.

The relaxation of these rules will be reviewed again in autumn at which point the Government will consider the status of these measures for further extension, permanent retention or expiry.

Ministers will continue to review the measures at regular intervals as needed thereafter to provide certainty to business and ensure that the appropriate regulatory environment is in place as required. A separate process is being taken forward for the measures protecting businesses from eviction, insolvency and debt recovery, which has been outlined in an oral statement by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on June 16.

Better regulation framework impact assessments

The Government introduced a significant amount of emergency legislation responding to covid-19 and we recognise that there may be a risk that current better regulation framework requirements might lead to disproportionate administrative burdens on Government Departments, particularly on the retrospective validation of temporary emergency legislation that is extended to be in force for 12 months or more.

For emergency covid-19 legislation which is exempt from the business impact target (BIT) under the “civil emergencies” exemption we have decided to relax the administrative requirements set out in the better regulation framework for full impact assessments to be undertaken and scrutinised by the Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC). This relaxation of the policy requirement covers time-limited measures only. As a matter of policy under the framework, impact assessments are still expected for other emergency measures which are not temporary, even if they are non-qualifying measures under the “civil emergencies” exemption, and so not legally required to be supported by an impact assessment. Such impact assessments are to be submitted to the RPC in the normal way. The statutory requirement for measures exempted in this way from legal requirements for IAs to be verified as such by the RPC remains.

This adjustment of requirements will remain in place in advance of the wider reform of the better regulation framework completing.

July 21, 2021
Sadiq Khan – 2021 Statement on the Scrappage Scheme in London

The statement made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 16 July 2021.

Air pollution is a national health crisis that is stunting the lung development of our children and leading to thousands of premature deaths.

Despite the lack of Government support, our car and motorcycle scrappage scheme will continue to help low-income and disabled Londoners scrap their older, polluting vehicles and switch to walking, cycling and public transport or a cleaner vehicle.

In central London, the Ultra Low Emission Zone has already helped cut toxic roadside nitrogen dioxide pollution by nearly half and led to reductions that are five times greater than the national average. But pollution isn’t just a central London problem, which is why expanding the ULEZ later this year will benefit Londoners across the whole of the city and is a crucial step in London’s green recovery. There is no time to waste. We know pollution hits the poorest Londoners and those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities the hardest, which is why I’m doing everything I can to improve the health for all Londoners.

We need the Government to follow London’s lead and help clean our filthy air once and for all, by strengthening the Environment Bill to include WHO recommended air quality limits to be met by 2030 and supporting a targeted national vehicle scrappage fund that will help motorists across the UK to ditch their polluting cars.

July 21, 2021
Sadiq Khan – 2021 Comments on Tackling Violence in London

The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 20 July 2021.

I’m determined to tackle violence in London by continuing to be both tough on violent crime and tough on the root causes of violent crime. There will be an increased police presence this summer in the areas of London worst affected by violence, but we know we will never simply be able to arrest our way out of the problem. That’s why, working with communities across our city, we’ve created thousands of new positive opportunities for young people so they have somewhere safe to go this summer, where they can make the most of their talents.

With lockdown restrictions now lifted and schools breaking up for the holidays, it’s more important than ever that we work together to ensure we don’t see a rise in violence over the summer months. This means supporting our young people, diverting them away from crime and giving them opportunities to thrive.

City Hall and London’s Violence Reduction Unit, the first of its kind in the country, is investing in hundreds of programmes – from mentoring and support for families, to sport, music and performing arts. Our city is brimming with opportunities for young Londoners this summer and beyond and I would encourage people to get involved.

July 21, 2021
Sadiq Khan – 2021 Statement on the Future of London High Streets

The statement made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 21 July 2021.

The shops, cafes and other businesses on London’s local high streets have been the heartbeat of our economy, but they’ve been hit incredibly hard by the COVID pandemic. As we start to recover, we need to be bold and innovative to ensure our high streets can survive as diverse, bustling centres of our capital’s economy.

I’m pleased to be able to announce new funding for projects all across the capital that are leading the way coming up with solutions for the future of our high streets. Whether it’s new ideas for shared working space, bringing old offices back into use or providing space for exciting cultural activities, these ideas will stimulate economic activity and also enrich social and cultural life in our local communities.

I’m doing all I can to encourage Londoners to safely return to our high streets, but these ongoing partnerships with councils and businesses across the capital will be vital for guaranteeing their future growth and prosperity.

July 21, 2021
Kwasi Kwarteng – 2021 Comments on the UK’s National Security

The comments made by Kwasi Kwarteng, the Business Secretary, on 20 July 2021.

Protecting the UK’s national security is of paramount importance to this government. Now that our investment screening regime has been strengthened, the government will be able to take swift and decisive action against potentially hostile foreign investment.

This robust regime will also make the investment screening process simpler and quicker for investors and businesses – giving them the certainty they need to do business in the UK – and I urge them to make sure they are ready for the changes coming into force on 4 January 2022.

July 21, 2021
Justin Tomlinson – 2021 Comments about Future of Disabled Benefits

The comments made by Justin Tomlinson, the Minister for Disabled People, on 20 July 2021.

I am incredibly pleased that in the course of putting this consultation together, we have been able to identify key themes for improvement.

We already spend a record amount supporting disabled people and people with health conditions, and have made good progress at supporting more disabled people into work but we are ambitious for further improvement – and I am grateful to the disabled people and stakeholders who have contributed so far.

July 21, 2021
Priti Patel – 2021 Comments on Illegal Migration

The comments made by Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, on 20 July 2021.

The British people have simply had enough of illegal migration and the exploitation of migrants by criminal gangs.

Illegal immigration is driven by serious organised criminals and people smugglers. The public are rightly angry that small boats are arriving on our shores, facilitated by appalling criminal gangs who profit from human misery and put lives at risk.

The government is addressing the challenge of illegal migration for the first time in over two decades through comprehensive reform of our asylum system which will enable us to going after the gangs exploiting people, deter illegal entry into the UK, introduce new and tougher criminal offences for those attempting to enter the UK illegally and strengthen our ability to remove those with no legal right to be in the UK.

July 21, 2021
Vicky Ford – 2021 Comments on Autism

The comments made by Vicky Ford, the Minister for Children and Families, on 21 July 2021.

Many people who have autism face unacceptable barriers in every aspect of their lives – in health, employment and still too often in their education. I’m proud that the new Autism Strategy will, for the first time ever, also consider how to better support autistic children and young people’s access to education.

A huge part of how we can address the inequalities that these children and young people face is by increasing our awareness and understanding of their needs, and tailoring the support available to them. Working closely with the healthcare services, we can level up outcomes for autistic young people in generations to come.

July 21, 2021
Sajid Javid – 2021 Comments on Autism

The comments made by Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on 21 July 2021.

Improving the lives of autistic people is a priority and this new strategy, backed by almost £75 million in the first year, will help us create a society that truly understands and includes autistic people in all aspects of life. It will reduce diagnosis waiting times for children and adults and improve community support for autistic people. This is crucial in reducing the health inequalities they face, and the unacceptable life expectancy gap that exists today.

July 21, 2021
Keir Starmer – 2021 Letter to Boris Johnson Over Self-Isolation

The letter sent by Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition, to Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, on 18 July 2021.

Dear Prime Minister,

During the pandemic the public have sacrificed so much to stick to the rules. At a time when we need to maintain confidence in self isolation, parents, workers and businesses will be wondering what on earth is going on in Downing Street.

Today’s latest fiasco of yourself and the Chancellor being magically selected for a testing trial so you could avoid isolation like the rest of us is just the latest example of the Conservatives fixing the rules to benefit themselves, and only backtracking when they were found out.

The reported comments that you “did look briefly at the idea” of taking part in a daily test pilot scheme will provide no reassurance to the public, to whom this will look very much like one rule for Conservative ministers, and another rule for the public.

There are still serious questions that remain:

How did the trial to avoid self-isolating include the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster?

How was inclusion in the trial decided?

How long was it before the trial confirmed you could be released from isolation?

When did you travel to Chequers? Why did both your and Chancellor’s original statement say you would continue to work from Downing Street?

Where is the Chancellor self-isolating?

If the pilot has been letting Conservative ministers avoid self-isolation since May, why has this not been made public sooner?

Will the Government release a full list of Conservative ministers covered by the self-isolation trial?

Have any other ministers benefitted from the trial and avoided self-isolation?

How many people have deleted the NHS app?

Will join me in urging the public to continue to follow the rules on self-isolation?

There are hundreds of thousands of people who have been forced to miss family events, close businesses and go without pay because they have done the right thing. And yet ministers have played the system. This cannot go on. The public need clear leadership at this time, not this hypocritical way of trying to do things that just undermines confidence in the rules and puts lives at risk.

As news broke this morning of your initial decision to avoid self-isolation, the many thousands of people across the country who are self-isolating would have wondered why they were not offered the same opportunity.

Over the past week, there have been children sent home from school after a positive case in their bubble, NHS staff working overtime to cover staff absences and businesses struggling to run a normal level of service due to their employees self-isolating. These people deserve an immediate answer from ministers about the Cabinet’s participation in this scheme.

I have been sent examples of businesses and individuals struggling to do the right thing and follow the rules. They would have benefited from this policy. Examples I wish to highlight include:

– A Midlands transport provider concerned that high numbers of drivers and control room staff isolating will negatively impact on services and lead to cancellations

– Train drivers in Sheffield self-isolating and leading to service cancellations this weekend

– Large numbers of staff at Ipswich hospital who had to take time off because they or their family had to isolate, causing elective surgeries to be cancelled

– Security staff at Heathrow Airport having to self-isolate, causing disruption

– Bin collections being cancelled due to staff shortages caused by self-isolation

In addition, the tube workers on London Underground, which is now facing staff shortages due to self-isolation leading to delays and cancellations, could have benefited from the trial. But contrary to the Government’s claims, Transport for London has not yet been confirmed as a participant in the scheme.

The public deserve an answer to these questions. I look forward to his response, and trust that a minister will come to Parliament on Monday to explain this system for the benefit of our constituents.

Keir Starmer

Leader of the Labour Party

July 21, 2021