Committee examines impact of coronavirus on businesses and workers
12 May 2020
On Thursday morning, the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee continues its Coronavirus inquiry examining the concerns of businesses, workers and consumers and looking at international comparisons to lifting the lockdown.
The session includes witnesses from the TUC, the IoD and Which? and a panel of academic experts and follows the Prime Minister’s unveiling of a strategy to ease the lockdown and the publication of a series of guidance papers for businesses to operate during the coronavirus pandemic.
Chair's comments
Darren Jones, Labour MP for Bristol North West MP, Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee said:
“The Chancellor’s extension of the furlough scheme is welcome but it’s vital we kick-start the thinking now about what comes next for support for workers and businesses.
“It’s crucial the recovery from this crisis has at its heart investment in both infrastructure and people, examining options such as Government-backed work placements for those workers who may find themselves unemployed. More immediately, I hope the Government will soon set out how they will help small-and-medium sized businesses access the protection kit they need and take the steps to ensure workers can return with the confidence their workplaces are safe.
“Following the Prime Minister’s setting out of a strategy to emerge from lockdown and the publication of plans for safe working, it’s important in our evidence session on Thursday that we hear the voices of businesses, workers and consumers and that we work to ensure that the support is available for them to move forward and help the nation emerge from the lockdown.
“Our evidence hearing on Thursday also gives us an opportunity to gain an insight into some of the experiences and practices of other countries and their lifting of the lockdown, and whether we can learn from the measures they have employed to keep workers safe, protect livelihoods and businesses, and restore consumer confidence.”
Witnesses
Thursday 14th May
At 9.30am
Panel One
- Sue Davies - Head of Consumer Protection and Food Policy, Which?
- Paul Nowak, Deputy General Secretary, TUC
- Tej Parikh, Chief Economist, Institute of Directors
At 10.15am
Panel Two
- Professor David Heymann, distinguished fellow, Chatham House;
- Dr Adam Kucharski, associate professor, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
The impact of coronavirus on businesses and workers inquiry - The Committee has held sessions with business representatives (17 March) and on the impact on small businesses and the retail sector (30 April). The Committee took evidence from the Secretary of State on 23 April on the Department's response to coronavirus.
New Chair of BEIS Committee - Following an election for the position of Chair, Darren Jones, Labour MP for Bristol North West, was confirmed as the new Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee in a secret (online) ballot of MPs which took place on Wednesday 6th May.
Committee membership – On Monday 11 May, Judith Cummins, Ruth Jones and Charlotte Nichols were added as members of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee. Peter Kyle, Pat McFadden and Anna McMorrin were discharged from the Committee.