COVID-19 Updates – week commencing 26/10/20
More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance.
Go to date:
26 October 2020 …
Tourism Alliance updates:
DCMS Update on Brexit
Here is an excellent update that DCMS have put together that pulls together Government Brexit announcements and arranges them under different themes
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- Future Relationship and Transition Period
- Immigration
- EU Settlement Scheme
- People and Tourism
- International Trade
- Exports, Customs and Borders
- Carnets, Licences and Permits
- Services
- Data Protection and Intellectual property
- EU Funding and Finance
- Arts, Heritage, Tourism and Cultural Sector
Immigration Update
- Legislation has been laid in Parliament setting out a number of changes to the Immigration Rules that provide the foundation for the UK’s new Points-Based Immigration System, which will apply from 1 January 2021.
- As you will have seen in the media, this contains the amendment that reduces the Salary threshold to £20,480 from the previous £35,800, a change that will greatly help tourism businesses recruit the staff they need in future.
- The Skilled Worker Route will open for applications from December 2020. In order to recruit overseas workers through the Skilled Worker Route, you must be registered as a licensed sponsor. Getting a licence normally takes around 8 weeks and fees apply. You can find all the information you need, at GOV.UK/HiringFromTheEU.
- EU, EEA and Swiss nationals arriving in the UK on or before 31 December should not apply through the Points-Based Immigration System. They should instead apply to the EU Settlement Scheme upon arriving in the UK.
Here’s a link to the full statement on changes to the immigration rules:
27 October 2020 …
CPT update:
SUPPORT FOR EMPLOYERS – HMRC WEBINARS
HMRC will be running a series of Webinars covering the main wage subsidy and job support schemes
The original Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) closes on 31 October and employers will need to make any final claims through that scheme on or before 30 November
The new Job Support Scheme opens on 1 November, and initial claims can be made from 8 December
The Job Retention Bonus payable to employers in respect of all employees who were claimed for under the CJRS at any stage, and are then retained in employment until 31 January 2021 will also open for claims from 15 February 2021
The the live COVID-19 support for employers webinars are intended to provide employers with the latest information about these schemes, and also provide employers with the opportunity to ask questions
The latest webinar dates released are for:
- Friday 31 October at 12:15
- Wednesday 4 November at 12:45
- Thursday 5 November at 14:15
The link shown below will take you to the registration page
Tourism Alliance update:
First Town Deals Announced
The Government has announced the first seven towns of 101 places that will be offered a Town Deal. Between them, these towns will receive £178.8m to support regeneration and economic growth
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- Barrow-in-Furness
- Blackpool,
- Darlington
- Peterborough
- Norwich
- Torquay
- Warrington
Of particular interest to the tourism industry and the Blackpool and Torquay allocations
Blackpool
£39.5 million to be used to update the Blackpool Illuminations, for a return to tourism after the COVID-19 pandemic, which used to attract 4 million visitors and bring in £284 million a year, and to support the development of the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone
Torquay
£21.9 million to modernise Torquay town centre, transforming it into a retail and leisure destination for people visiting, working and living in the town as well as improving transport links with a new focus on walking and cycling routes
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/first-town-deals-worth-almost-180-million-announced
Restrictions Relaxed for Pubs and Restaurants in Scotland
The First Minister has announced that pubs and restaurants in level two areas of Scotland will be able to serve alcohol indoors with a meal until 8pm from next Monday.
Pubs and restaurants in level three areas will also be allowed to reopen but must not serve alcohol.
