Asked by: Dan Poulter (Labour - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support he plans to make available to gyms in respect of (a) VAT and (b) the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to enable those businesses to re-open after the covid-19 lockdown.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The temporary reduced rate of VAT was introduced on 15 July to support the cash flow and viability of over 150,000 businesses and protect 2.4 million jobs in the hospitality and tourism sectors, and is due to run until 31 March 2021. This policy will cost over £2 billion.
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) was set to close on 31 October 2020. However, in light of the path of the virus and to provide certainty to businesses and employees, the CJRS has been extended until the end of April 2021 for all parts of the UK.
The Chancellor has always been clear that the Government would keep the situation under review, adapting its approach as the context evolved. The Government will set out the next phase of the plan to tackle the virus and support jobs at Budget.
Asked by: Dan Poulter (Labour - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will extend the business rates relief scheme through the 2021-22 financial year.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The full business rates holiday for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties for the financial year is worth about £10 billion to business in 2020-21. The Government will continue to look at how to adjust its support in a way that ensures people can get back to work, protecting both the UK economy and the livelihoods of people across the country. In order to ensure that any decisions best meet the evolving challenges presented by COVID-19, the Government will outline plans for future reliefs in due course.
Asked by: Dan Poulter (Labour - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to return the official development assistance budget to 0.7 per cent of GNI; and what the fiscal criteria are for that return.
Answered by Steve Barclay
The Government intends to return to the 0.7% target when the fiscal situation allows. We cannot at this moment predict with certainty when the current fiscal circumstances will have sufficiently improved.
Asked by: Dan Poulter (Labour - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will extend the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for (a) the live events sector and (b) other industries that are unable to re-open until Spring 2021 as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has said there will be no further extensions or changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). After eight months of the CJRS, the scheme will close at the end of October.
The introduction of flexible furloughing further ensures that firms can adjust how they furlough to match their speed of reopening. Firms will be able to claim under the CJRS until October flexibly.
It would be challenging to target the CJRS to specific sectors in a fair and deliverable way, and it may not be the case that this is the most effective or sensible way to provide longer term support for those sectors who may not yet be reopening.
The Government will continue to engage with businesses and sectors with the aim of ensuring that support provided is right for those sectors and for the economy as a whole.
Asked by: Dan Poulter (Labour - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether caterers providing food for (a) wedding breakfasts and (b) similar events are eligible for the VAT cut announced on 8 July 2020 on eat-in or hot takeaway food from restaurants, cafes and pubs as the covid-19 restrictions are eased.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Catering for events and functions provided on the catering supplier’s premises are covered by the new reduced rate, with the exclusion of alcoholic beverages. This is set out in the catering, takeaway food guidance (VAT Notice 709/1) published on GOV.UK.
Further detail about the application of the new reduced rate can be found in the Revenue and Customs guidance on the temporary reduced rate of VAT for hospitality, holiday accommodation and attractions, also published on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Dan Poulter (Labour - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will extend financial support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to people with blood cancer who (a) have been shielding but cannot work from home or (b) have been advised to continue shielding from August.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Government recognises that COVID-19 has posed significant challenges for those suffering with cancer.
The Government has put in place unprecedented levels of income support to help people deal with the financial consequences of COVID-19. This does not just include the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, but also the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, changes to Statutory Sick Pay, and the £9.3bn which the OBR estimates that the Government has injected into the welfare system.
The Chancellor announced on 12 May that the CJRS scheme will be extended until October. Before 30 June, any employee could be furloughed, including those suffering from cancer. From 1 July, an employee can only continue to be furloughed if they have previously been furloughed for at least 3 consecutive weeks taking place any time between 1 March 2020 and 30 June.
For those required to shield after 1 August, they will receive a letter or notification advising them of this, and they will continue to be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay on the basis of their shielding status.