Jeff Smith: What recent estimate he has made of the value of revenue lost by local authorities as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
Jeff Smith: Manchester has lost £136 million in revenue this year alone. In Greater Manchester, the funding gap is £406 million. In the UK, it is £10 billion. The Minister just told us unequivocally that local authorities should not make plans for more austerity. Is he committing to fully fund those gaps?
Jeff Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will reopen the suspended consultation on Regulating independent educational institutions in order to close legal loopholes that enable (a) illegal and (b) unregistered schools to operate.
Jeff Smith: Let’s take a break.
Jeff Smith: Whether he plans to deliver a support package for the (a) music industry and (b) culture sector affected by the covid-19 outbreak.
Jeff Smith: What steps his Department is taking to ensure close co-operation with the Welsh Government during the covid-19 outbreak.
Jeff Smith: The Welsh Labour Government require businesses that receive financial support to sign up to their economic contract, which means that they need to support economic growth, fair work, employee health and skills, and action to reduce carbon footprints. Given the need to build back better after this crisis, does the Secretary of State agree that the Welsh Government approach should be adopted by...
Jeff Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Government support packages made available for charities, the tech sector and rugby league, whether the Government plans to provide additional sector-specific support packages during the covid-19 outbreak.
Jeff Smith: What assessment he has made of the effect on air quality of the reduction in the use of motor vehicles during the covid-19 lockdown.
Jeff Smith: I thank the Minister for her answer. That is some small good news, I guess, out of lockdown. In Manchester’s sister city of Wuhan in China, private car use nearly doubled when the lockdown ended, with the obvious effects on air quality. Is the Minister concerned that the Prime Minister’s statement of 10 May encouraged the use of cars?
Jeff Smith: It is a pleasure to take part in this debate remotely. Last week, one Member described the hybrid system as “sub-optimal”, and that is undoubtedly the case, but it does at least allow everyone the chance to take part in debates safely. If the Leader of the House is going to press ahead with his proposals for a physical Parliament after recess, I hope he will explain how we could debate...
Jeff Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the proportion of self-employed workers in the creative sector that are not eligible for the Self-Employed Income Support scheme.
Jeff Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the support available for creative sector businesses that are not eligible for the (a) Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund and (b) Small Business Grant Fund.
Jeff Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of (a) workers and (b) businesses in the creative sector that are not eligible for any of the Government's covid-19- specific financial support packages.
Jeff Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing financial support packages for (a) music, (b) arts and (c) other festivals as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
Jeff Smith: I am very pleased to follow our excellent shadow Minister, and to be able to contribute briefly to today’s debate on this statutory instrument. First, I refer Members to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. I rent my constituency premises from the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, and I am proud to do so. As we have heard, yesterday was International...
Jeff Smith: What recent estimate he has made of the reduction in local authority revenue as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
Jeff Smith: I suspect that the Minister is going to tell me how much Manchester has been given, which is about 12% of what is actually needed. In Manchester, the council is forecasting £125 million in lost income this financial year as a result of coronavirus. That is the money that has kept services going in the face of some of the harshest cuts in the public sector and is allowing the council to lead...
Jeff Smith: What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on support for people in Wales whose employment has been adversely affected by the covid-19 outbreak.
Jeff Smith: Given that we are still in a transition period with the EU, can the Foreign Secretary clarify whether UK nationals can access flights operated by EU countries? I understand that a number of them are operating flights and it might be possible and easier to get back to the UK from European countries rather than from other continents.