Big package of tax cuts and reforms announced by Chancellor & welcome recognition that when business has a supportive regulatory & fiscal env we all benefit re jobs, growth & investment. Intent to have a globally competitive tax regime should be expanded to incl bus rates and VAT But - and it is a big but - much of this will take time to deliver and thousands of businesses are at risk of failure because of high taxes now. Reversing Aprils increase in Vat for hospitality - highest in Europe - would have delivered immediate boost to jobs and investment now

In July, hospitality sector agreed the tightest COVID secure protocols in the world to allow reopening. Mitigating measures proposed in them address all SAGE risk factors - close, face to face contact in crowded loud poorly ventilated places - so here is what we did .. Firstly, we reduced our occupancy and capacity to ensure social distancing at all times. Secondly, we made it all seated, with consumption only at table. Thirdly, we moved to side by side or back to back seating and 2m for face to face - plus face masks for staff & customers

A reminder that the current tier 3 restrictions mean 94% of hospitality businesses become unviable by March. In Tier 2 it is 75% and even at Tier 1 it is still 25% - if there is any strengthening it cannot be at the expense of hospitality. bbc.co.uk/news/uk-550294… We need to see an easing of the ban on mixed household socialising and he inclusion of a dispersal period after last sales. Wales has shown this can be done within the context of other tougher restrictions on other parts of the economy without jeopardising health

This article and the scientists comments in it are misleading as they seem to suggest restrictions on pubs, hotels and restaurants only exist at the highest Tier 3 controls. They don’t, many like curfew and table service apply to all across the country dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8… The restrictions on meeting friends and family apply in tier 2 - NE, Yorkshire, London, Essex, Birmingham and Midlands and tier 3 means effective closure for pubs, restaurants and hotels in Liverpool and Greater Manchester. It isn’t just semantics, it matters to millions of jobs