Business needs certainty as PM sets out winter plan - Chamber
The government must keep “an open mind ” about support for business in the event of rising Covid-19 infection rates during the autumn and winter months, business leaders said today.
Boris Johnson yesterday set out a Plan A and Plan B to tackle the expected rise in case rates.
Plan A is based on preventing further restrictions being introduced and focuses on offering vaccinations to 12 to 15 year-olds.
A 10-day quarantine period will remain in place for those who test positive, school bubbles are to be replaced with an enhanced testing programme, restrictions on travel will still apply and the PM has pledged a £5.4bn cash injection to the NHS in England to aid the Covid-19 response over the next six months.
There will also be a continue focus on hand-washing, ventilation, mask-wearing in riskier spaces and encouraging employees to stay at home if they feel unwell.
However, the government also set out a Plan B if pressure on the NHS becomes unsustainable.
This includes the possible introduction of vaccine passports to enter venues at venues such as nightclubs, indoor settings with more than 500 attendees, outdoor settings with 4,000 or more attendees and larger settings such as sports stadiums.
Businesses have been told to prepare for implementation of vaccine passports at short notice.
Advice to work from home would also return as well as the legal requirement to wear face coverings in some settings such as public transport and shops.
Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce described the plans as a “delicate balancing act ” but warned Plan B changes could provide logistical and technical problems for businesses.
Chief executive Henrietta Brealey (pictured) said: “We all recognise the delicate balancing act the Prime Minister needs to achieve between kickstarting the economy and stemming the flow of the virus as we approach winter.
“The latest plan outlined by the PM makes clear that there is no desire to return to enforced lockdowns and the associated fallout that businesses have suffered over the last 18 months.
“It was also encouraging to see some positive movement towards reopening international travel - we would encourage the Government to go even further and make the cost of testing cheaper in a bid to drive demand in a sector that 's been rocked to its core by the pandemic.
“Nevertheless, as is often the case, the headline statements seem to be lacking the granular detail which will give businesses a steer of confidence that any further lockdowns are likely to be avoided.
“In particular, leaving businesses with just a week to prepare for the Plan B changes will fill many with a sense of dread given the logistical and technical issues they are likely to face in implementing these measures at short notice.
“The success of the vaccine rollout and the easing of national restrictions has led to a growing air of optimism amongst local businesses - yet, as data from our latest Quarterly Business Report has revealed, many firms are still suffering from massive overheads and the Winter Plan will have done little to allay their fears over the difficulties that lie ahead.
“Ahead of the upcoming Autumn Statement, we would urge the Chancellor to have an open mind on offering continued support for those businesses that are struggling to get back on their feet - retaining the current VAT reductions and bringing forward the long-planned Business Rates Discretionary Relief Fund would be a good start. ”
Click here to access the Covid-19 Support Grid which sets out information on the various Government support mechanisms are in place for local businesses, how you can apply and details on when the schemes close.
Click here to book your place on our upcoming Q3 Quarterly Business Report launch event which will focus on 'Bridging the Skills Gap in Greater Birmingham ' and includes speakers from the likes of the West Midlands Combined Authority, HS2 and Birmingham City Council.