For all Ministers’ warm words about supporting businesses through the crisis, the beauty industry is now on the brink of collapse precisely because of government policy.

The government had told salons that they’d be allowed to open on 1 August but, with less than 24 hours’ notice, this decision was reversed and salons were suddenly informed that they would need to remain closed for at least another two weeks. To make matters worse, the government is not offering salons any financial support to make up for their lost income.

Blynk, in my constituency, is one such salon run by hard-working, entrepreneurial women. It employs eight members of staff who have been left in a precarious and untenable situation because of government ineptitude. Understandably, they are at their wits’ end and ministers have still not confirmed when they will be allowed to reopen.

Salons, like any other business, need as much clarity as possible from government if they are to plan ahead and start to rebuild. There should be no more delays and no more confusion. Salons must be allowed to get back to work.