Asked by: Nick Fletcher (Conservative - Don Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps his Department is taking to support travel agents during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
During this difficult time the Treasury recognises the extreme disruption the necessary actions to combat Covid-19 are having on businesses, including important industries such as travel and tourism.
That is why the Government has announced unprecedented support for individuals and businesses to protect against the current economic emergency. This includes grants to smaller businesses, and a package of government-backed and guaranteed loans through the Coronavirus Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF), the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS), and the Bounce Back Loan Scheme. Together these schemes ensure almost all viable UK businesses can apply for a government backed loan.
Travel and tourism industries can also benefit from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and travel agents occupying eligible properties will benefit from the retail, hospitality and leisure business rates holiday.
The government will not be able to protect every single job or save every single business, but these measures will support millions of families, businesses and self-employed people to get through this and emerge on the other side both stronger and more united.
Asked by: Nick Fletcher (Conservative - Don Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of enabling businesses that have multiple premises in different local authority areas to access the £10,000 small business grant funding.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Small Business Grant Fund has been designed to support the smallest businesses which have been hit hardest by the measures taken to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The design of the scheme has been tied to existing eligibility for Small Business Rates Relief and Rural Rates Relief, which together provide a straightforward framework for Local Authorities to make payments as quickly as possible. Any delay in the delivery of the grants schemes would be highly unwelcome during this time of crisis, when it is vital that Local Authorities make payments to hard-hit businesses as quickly as possible.
Under the Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure Grant Fund, properties operating in those sectors with a rateable value of £15,000 or under can receive a £10,000 even if they are not eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rates Relief. This is designed to help sectors which have been particularly hard hit by the closures necessary to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Asked by: Nick Fletcher (Conservative - Don Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 1.99 of the Budget 2020 Red Book, if he will provide details of the process by which businesses will be reimbursed in the event that they are required to provide employees with statutory sick pay as a result of covid-19.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government will bring forward legislation to allow small- and medium-sized businesses and employers to reclaim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) paid for sickness absence due to COVID-19.
The Government will work with employers over the coming months to set up the repayment mechanism for employers as soon as possible. Existing systems are not designed for this purpose.
All businesses and self-employed people in financial distress, and with outstanding tax liabilities, may be eligible to receive support with their tax affairs through HMRC’s Time To Pay service.
Asked by: Nick Fletcher (Conservative - Don Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 1.101 of the 2020 Budget Red Book, if he will publish details of the process by which small businesses will be able access the £3,000 cash grant.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Chancellor announced on 17 March that this grant will be increased to £10,000 for all businesses in receipt of Small Business Rate Relief, or Rural Rate Relief. In addition, retail businesses with a rateable value of between £15,000 and £51,000 will receive a cash grant of £25,000.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will write to Local Authorities this week to outline these schemes and will provide detailed guidance as soon as possible. Eligible businesses will be contacted by Local Authorities shortly afterwards to provide details on how to claim this money.
Asked by: Nick Fletcher (Conservative - Don Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing Doncaster Sheffield Airport as a freeport.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government is committed to running a fair, transparent and robust allocation process to select up to 10 freeports across the UK.
The Government is currently consulting publicly on freeports policy; the finalised policy and a bidding process will be announced in due course after the consultation has concluded.