COVID-19 Update 25th February 2021

• CJRS – February Data

HMRC has published data on the number of people furloughed as of 15 February 2021. The data shows yet again that the tourism-related businesses have been impacted more than any other sector:

• • 4.7m people were on furlough at the end of January
  • 1.15m of these were in the accommodation and food services sectors – so 24.5% of the total
  • This is 68% of the entire workforce in this sector
  • This was more than any other sector of the UK economy – the sector with the second highest level was wholesale and retail with 0.94m
  • 64% of people in the arts, entertainment and recreation sector were on furlough – the second highest rate

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-statistics-february-2021/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-statistics-february-2021

• Furlough Claims

HMRC have issued a reminder that claims for furlough days in February 2021 must be made by 15 March 2021

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-which-employees-you-can-put-on-furlough-to-use-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

• Essential Workers for Covid Testing

DHSC has published guidance on who is deemed to be an essential workers to be prioritised for PCR testing. From a tourism perspective it includes:

• • Those working in air, water, road and rail passenger transport
  • Those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery
  • Teaching and support staff including specialist education professionals

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/essential-workers-prioritised-for-covid-19-testing

• Planning Inspectorate Guidance

The Planning inspectorate has issued guidance to say that they are reviewing how they will operator over the forthcoming months in light of the Government’s Road Map in easing restrictions as well as liaising with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on their expectations for the planning system in the light of planning reform and wider system changes. After which they will “carefully evaluate the full range of practical options” continue to “engage with all customers, participants and stakeholders”.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-planning-inspectorate-guidance

• Passenger Arrivals

The Home Office has released data on arrivals into the UK since the beginning of the Coronavirus outbreak. The key findings are:

• • There were around 630,000 air passenger arrivals to the UK in January 2021
  • This monthly average for April to June 2020 was less than 200,000
  • The figure for January 2021 is around 91% lower than the figure for January 2020, when there were 7.1 million arrivals.

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistics-relating-to-passenger-arrivals-since-the-covid-19-outbreak-february-2021/statistics-relating-to-passenger-arrivals-since-the-covid-19-outbreak-february-2021#key-findings

• Apprenticeship Guidance Updated Again

The guidance for businesses providing apprenticeships has been updated again to state that eligible apprentices can now start their EPA before they achieve their functional skills qualifications, if they have been prevented from doing so by coronavirus restrictions.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-apprenticeship-programme-response