Office for Life Sciences Bulletin - 19th June 2020

Office for Life Sciences Bulletin – 19 June 2020

OLS Introduction The Office for Life Sciences (OLS) is a joint unit between the Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

This bulletin aims to keep the life sciences sector up to date on the latest guidance whilst the UK is in the transition period and during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, providing you with information from Government to help your members and networks prepare.

If you would like to be added to the distribution list, please email Anisha.Visram@beis.gov.uk Australia and New Zealand public mandate The UK Government has published its negotiation objectives for trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand. Please find more information here, the UK’s strategic approach to the UK-Australia FTA here and New Zealand here.

Australia and New Zealand have also published their public mandates.

CPTPP Liz Truss reaffirmed on Wednesday, the UK’s desire to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), one of the world’s largest free trade areas accounting for 13% of global GDP (2018).

Non-essential retail All non-essential retail shops (high street retailers, department stores, book shops, electronics retailers, tailors, auction houses, photography studios, indoor markets, and shops selling clothes, shoes and toys) can reopen in England from today, Monday 15 June, provided they follow guidelines to keep staff and customers as safe as possible. Please refer to the Working safely during coronavirus Shops and Branches guidance for further details and watch our webinar on working safely in shops and branches during coronavirus.

Economic recovery roundtables Business Secretary Alok Sharma chairs a series of economic recovery roundtables, focussing on the measures necessary to support economic recovery and ensure we have the right opportunities in place for growth across the country over the next 18 months and beyond. Details of the participants and the questions covered are available here.

Events Government departments are hosting a series of free webinars to help businesses understand the support available. Keep up to date with all the latest available webinars here.

Various dates – Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – How to make a claim Various dates – Coronavirus COVID-19 Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme Various dates – Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) Various dates – HMRC webinar on changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme how employers will be affected, flexible furloughing, key dates and support available. Sign up here.

UPDATED - UK Government’s YouTube video about how to make a Self-Employment Income Support Scheme claim has been updated. Find more information here.

Workforce UPDATED – Guidance on the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. If you're selfemployed or member of a partnership, find out how your circumstances can affect your eligibility for the scheme. The update includes examples added, to show when the ‘adversely affected’ criteria for the first and second grants will be met. Find out more here.

Support to business NEW - The UK Government has developed a tool to help businesses in England to reopen safely during coronavirus. The tool encourages businesses to carry out a risk assessment and helps to identify the workplace adjustments that they should make. Employers have the legal responsibility to protect their employees and other people on site, such as customers and visitors. Employees can also use this to check what their workplace needs to do to keep people safe. The tool can be found here.

UPDATED – Changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. From 1 August, the level of the grant will be slowly reduced. No grant will be available for Class 1 employer NICs or pension contributions from 1 August although these contributions will remain payable by the employer.

From September 1, you will also be asked to contribute towards the cost of your furloughed employees’ wages to ensure they continue to receive at least 80% of their wages for the time they’re on furlough. Find out more information on how the amount of grant available through Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is changing.

UPDATED – NHS Test and Trace guidance for employers has been updated to explain where employers should go in the first instance if they are experiencing an outbreak in their workplace.

Please find more information here.

NEW – Attached is a Q&A for employers to answer the frequently asked questions on the Test and Trace programme. If there are any further questions, or you have feedback on the guidance or Q&A please contact TTDHSCexternalaffairs@dhsc.gov.uk.

NEW - The Minister for Small Business, Consumers & Labour Markets, Paul Scully MP, has written to those working in the retail sector. The letter thanks all those who are working in retail as shops across England reopen their doors this week.

UPDATED - Guidance for those working in care homes has been updated - providing information on how to work safely during this period of sustained transmission of COVID-19. Find the updated document here.

UPDATED- There have been temporary changes to VAT payments due between 20 March 2020 and 30 June 2020 to help businesses manage their cash flow. The update includes information regarding the end of the VAT deferral period. Find more information here.

UPDATED - HM Land Registry has issued an update on how they are delivering their services during the coronavirus outbreak. Latest change covers how conveyancers can request an application to be expedited’. Find more information here.

UPDATED – The working safely during coronavirus advice, including guidance for working in factories, plants, warehouses, labs, research facilities and offices has been updated. Please find more information here.

Useful Links • • • • • • • •

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Gov.uk/transition provides a central hub of resources for the transition period You can sign up to email alerts about the transition period on GOV.UK at this link.

Sign up for Home Office email updates about developments on the status of EU citizens in the UK after we leave the EU and the next steps for EU citizens in the UK at this link.

Access the ‘Check How to Export Goods’ tool here for the information you need to export goods out of the UK market.

Click here for more information and advice on exporting.

Click here for updated information on the Covid-19 response from the Department for Health and Social Care and Public Health England.

Click here for a list of Business Representative Organisations and Trade Associations you can speak with to get advice.

Specific information for businesses and employers in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales is available. In England, Growth Hubs can advise on local and UK Government business support.

COVID 19 key contact details: o General offers of help from industry: gcfcovid19enquiries@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, or visit this webpage. o To offer your support producing ventilators please contact the Business Support Helpline for England on 0300 456 3565 or ventilator.support@beis.gov.uk. o If you have already offered to assist on the ventilators project but not received a reply, please contact existing.ventilators@dhsc.gov.uk. o Share the impact COVID-19 is having on your organisation with intel@beis.gov.uk

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To provide feedback on MHRA engagement please contact engagement@mhra.gov.uk To call the Business Support Helpline in England please dial FREEPHONE 0800 998 1098, Scotland 0300 303 0660, Business Wales 0330 060 300 and Invest Northern Ireland 0800 181 4422