2nd June 2020

 

Dear Member,

 

COVID-19 UPDATE 

 

Re-Opening

 

• We are still awaiting formal written confirmation from DCMS that the Government’s intention in permitting amusement arcades to open from June 15th in England was for it to apply to High Street arcades.  This needs to be signed off by the Cabinet Office, hopefully tomorrow, but as per my Update on Friday we have been told again verbally that this was the Government’s intention. I will write to members just as soon as I hear anything.
• In Scotland and Wales re-opening will be further down the line for both High Street premises and FECs.  We still don’t have any announcements to report.  As mentioned on Friday Wales has told non-essential retail to be prepared to open and a final decision will be announced on in mid-June.  We expect similar in Scotland with the next three weekly assessment due on June 18th.  We had a call with the Scottish Tourism Minister today and he is articulating not just ours but the whole tourism industry’s concerns to the Scottish Government.  On the call many organisations pressed him on the need for a reduced social distance, preferably to one metre.  Members may have read in the papers today that this doubles the risk of infection.  That is taken from a Lancet article, but it is important to note that the infection risk is very low in the first place.  We are awaiting with a great deal of interest SAGE’s view of a reduction.
• Pubs – it is generally recognised that pubs will be towards the back end of premises allowed to open although those with beer gardens may be granted some freedom to provide food and drink outdoors. That has been referenced in Scotland explicitly.  Bacta is working with the Beer and Pub Association and UK Hospitality as well as pub operators to develop a set of principles around the operation of pub machines under whatever social distancing and hygienic measures are needed.  Our next meeting is on June 11th.  Any reduction in the social distance will make a major difference to pub’s ability to trade successfully when they can open.

 

Insurance

 

• The way insurance companies have behaved over Business Interruption Insurance has been one of the most frequently raised issues during the past three months.  Today we got an update on the FCA investigation/test:
  • They have published draft guidance on their expectations for insurers and insurance intermediaries when handling claims and complaints for business interruption policies during the test case. The guidance highlights the steps firms should be taking 
    • identify the potential implications of the test case on their decisions to reject claims:
    • keep policyholders informed about the test case and its implications for policies, claims and any settlement offers
    • treat policyholders fairly when the test case is resolved.
  • Click here for more details https://www.fca.org.uk/publications/guidance-consultations/business-interruption-insurance-test-case-draft-firmsI
  • In addition, they have provided an update on where they are in terms of their legal case – they have reviewed over 500 relevant policies from 40 insurers and identified a sample of 17 policy wordings that capture the majority of the key issues that could be in dispute – and set out a timetable for the court case which is scheduled for the second half of July.  https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/update-fca-test-case-validity-business-interruption-claim

 

Please find below our list of suppliers of PPE, signage and other supplies you might find useful as you prepare for re-opening.  JTS Gifts & Prizes, Safe Hands Solutions and PPE & Masks have been added this week.

 

PMS International – PPE

Delta Leisure – Signage

Instance Automatics – Signage and PPE (and flags)

Concept Games – Screens

Cornelius Electronics – Screens

legraphics – Signage

Shipley Creative – Signage

ActiveOffice – Screens and PPE

Print Centre Group – Signage

Bob Rudd Leisure – Hygiene Stations

Edmundsen Electrical – PPE and Signage

JAK Digital – PPE

URtoGO – PPE and Hygiene Stations

Empire Graphics – Signage and Screens

Kudos Giftwrap – PPE and Signage

SUZOHAPP – Dividing Screens

Regency Purchasing – PPE

JTS Gifts & Prizes – PPE

Safe Hands Solutions Limited – Hand Sanitiser Stations

PPE & Masks – PPE

As always please keep me informed of any issues that you are facing.

Kind Regards

John

 

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