Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 3
3
Paragraph: 26
We recommend that the Government conduct a full lessons learned review that specifically examines the...
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government conduct a full lessons learned review that specifically examines the impact of the handling of the pandemic at central and local government level on the short- and long-term health of high streets and town centres. The Government may wish to consider high streets in its independent inquiry into the Government’s handling of the pandemic, but given the pressing challenges facing the high street it should conduct a separate review immediately. The review should consider the various schemes on an individual basis as well as differential impacts by sector and by geography. It should consider the value for money of schemes that supported the high street, including how taxpayer money lost to fraud and error could have been prevented. The review should also consider how well high street businesses have been supported to implement covid-19 public health measures, such as the Test and Trace system, social distancing, and guidance on wearing face coverings. As well as considering lessons learned, the review should consider opportunities arising from the covid-19 pandemic for future policy development to support high streets and help them evolve in a post-pandemic world.
Paragraph Reference:
26
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government agrees with the Committee on the importance of learning lessons from the impact of the handling of the pandemic, and is committed to doing so. Throughout the pandemic, the Government has continually monitored the economic impact of restrictions and the case for support to mitigate the damage to businesses and protect jobs. The ongoing assessments of impacts of current health measures and other non-pharmaceutical restrictions has been integral in the design of addition funding support for businesses on the high street, as announced by the Government in relation to new COVID-19 variants. On 21 December 2021, the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced £1bn in support for businesses most impacted by Omicron across the UK. We have engaged regularly with the retail sector throughout the pandemic and continues to do so. Safe working has been a large part of those discussions and the sector were engaged in the development of safe working guidance for shops. Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets, Paul Scully MP, also holds regular retail roundtables and has done throughout the pandemic. These meetings touch on live issues impacting the sector and provide updates from Government on key areas of interest. Safe working continues to be a key message at these meetings. As for previous funding schemes, data on the funding provided to councils to support their local businesses through the COVID-19 business support grants is published and available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-grant-funding-local-authority-payments- to-small-and-medium-businesses. As for previous schemes, we will also monitor and publish data on funding spent per Local Authority as it becomes available. This will also depend on Local Authorities having the capacity to report back to Central Government. BEIS have commissioned an external evaluation of the Business Support Grant programme, for the effectiveness of its delivery.