Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Nickie Aiken Excerpts
Tuesday 15th September 2020

(3 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Steve Barclay Portrait Steve Barclay
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There seems to be some confusion because, just last week in the debate that we had in this House, the shadow Chancellor actually recognised that the Chancellor had indeed listened with regard to the design of the furlough. In fact, they claimed credit for the role, which I salute, of the trade unions and others. So we have listened, but the reality is that the furlough pays a higher rate of people’s wages than the scheme in Spain. It supports a wider range of businesses than the one in New Zealand and the scheme runs for twice as long as that in Denmark. That shows the flexibility and the willingness to listen on the part of my right hon. Friend.

Nickie Aiken Portrait Nickie Aiken (Cities of London and Westminster) (Con)
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What fiscal steps his Department is taking to protect jobs during the covid-19 outbreak.

Mark Harper Portrait Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean) (Con)
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What fiscal steps his Department is taking to protect jobs during the covid-19 outbreak.

Steve Barclay Portrait The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Steve Barclay)
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The Government have put in place a £190 billion plan to protect people’s jobs, incomes and businesses, one of the largest and most comprehensive economic responses in the world, and that includes the £30 billion made available under the plan for jobs.

Nickie Aiken Portrait Nickie Aiken
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The Eat Out to Help Out scheme has been a phenomenal success in my constituency of the Cities of London and Westminster. More than 890,000 meals have been discounted—several eaten by myself, I hasten to add. Will my right hon. Friend comment on the amazing package of help that the Government have given to the retail and hospitality sectors? Moving forward, what policies can we hope to expect to support these vital sectors, which are responsible for hundreds of thousands of jobs in my constituency?

Steve Barclay Portrait Steve Barclay
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My hon. Friend is right to recognise the effectiveness of that scheme in supporting demand. It was dismissed as a gimmick when my right hon. Friend the Chancellor launched it, but it has been warmly received by the hospitality industry. As she knows from her constituency and that of others, it is part of that wider package of support, including the cutting of the rate of VAT, which again has been a huge boost to that industry.