Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support he plans to make available for previously furloughed employees in the night-time industry and other sectors which are not yet safe to re-open according to covid-19 regulations.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Government recognises the extreme disruption the steps necessary to combat COVID-19 are having on businesses and workers in the night-time economy across the UK. On 9 October, it was announced that where the Government has had to go further and close business premises in some areas, the Job Support Scheme is being expanded to protect jobs and UK businesses. The scheme will cover businesses that are legally required to close their premises as a direct result of coronavirus restrictions set by one or more of the four governments in the UK. The Government will provide employers with a grant for employees unable to work, covering two thirds of their usual wages, subject to a cap. Support will be available to eligible businesses from 1 November.
The Government has built flexibility into the Job Support Scheme to provide emergency short-term support for jobs and businesses, which forms part of the Government’s wider package of measures to support businesses adjusting to the impact of coronavirus. The Government will continue to work with businesses and representative groups to ensure that support provided is right for the night-time industry and other affected sectors.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what financial support is available to (a) workers on zero hour contracts and (b) agency workers who have been advised to continue to self-isolate during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Government has committed to an unprecedented package to support individuals through this difficult time. This includes the introduction of the Coronavirus Job Retention and Self-Employment Income Support Schemes, as well as injecting an additional £9 billion into the welfare system according to Office for Budget Responsibility estimates.
If an employee earns average weekly earnings of at least £120 per week, they will be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if they have been ill or self-isolating; this includes agency workers and those on zero-hour contracts. The Government is committed to supporting individuals financially through this difficult time. For that reason the Government has changed the rules so that SSP is now payable from day 1, not day 4 for COVID-19 cases.
It is important to note that SSP is a statutory minimum and employers, who are responsible for paying SSP, will often pay more than this. More than half of employees receive more than this when they are off sick so many people will not see any fall in income during their isolation period.
The welfare system is best placed to provide support for those not eligible for SSP. This group will benefit from changes to the welfare system to support the most vulnerable. These changes include a £20 per week increase to the Universal Credit (UC) standard allowance and Working Tax Credit basic element, and a nearly £1 billion increase in support for renters through increases to the Local Housing Allowance rates for UC and Housing Benefit claimants.
In addition, the Department for Health and Social Care recently launched a trial for a new payment for those self-isolating in the highest risk areas in England. Starting with a trial in Blackburn with Darwen, Pendle and Oldham, individuals will be eligible if they are unable to work from home while self-isolating. This payment is in addition to the welfare safety net and SSP, providing a further incentive to self-isolate.
It will be available to people currently receiving at least one of the following benefits: Universal Credit, Working Tax Credits, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit, or Housing Benefit.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what financial support is available during the covid-19 outbreak for directors of limited companies who are (a) paid in dividends and (b) not eligible for universal credit.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Directors of limited companies who pay themselves a salary through their own company are eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). The CJRS is available to employers, including owner-managers, and individuals paying themselves a salary through a PAYE scheme are eligible. Where furloughed directors, including companies with a sole director, need to carry out particular duties to fulfil their statutory obligations, they may do so provided it is no more than would reasonably be judged necessary for that purpose.
They may also be able to benefit from other elements of the comprehensive package of support for individuals and businesses. This package includes Bounce Back loans, tax deferrals, rental support, mortgage holidays, and other business support grants. More information about the full range of business support measures is available at
www.gov.uk/government/collections/financial-support-for-businesses-during-coronavirus-covid-19.
As the economy reopens, it is right that state support is reduced and the focus shifts to getting people back to work. On 8 July, the Government introduced the new Plan for Jobs which will make available up to £30 billion to assist in creating, supporting and protecting jobs. The Plan includes the Kickstart Scheme, reduces the level of VAT for the hospitality and accommodation sector, and creates jobs through £8.6 billion of infrastructure, decarbonisation and maintenance projects. More information can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-plan-for-jobs-documents/a-plan-for-jobs-2020.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what (a) rent assistance and (b) other forms of financial support is available for market traders and stallholders who have been adversely affected by the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Steve Barclay
The Government has delivered one of the most generous and comprehensive packages of support globally, with a total fiscal response of close to £200bn. Many of the measures introduced, including loan schemes, tax deferrals, Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme remain open and have been designed to be accessible to businesses in most sectors and across the UK.
Eligible market stalls with a rateable value could also benefit from flat rate payments of £10,000 under the grant scheme for the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors. Moreover, in recognition that some market traders were excluded from this grant fund because of the way they interact with the business rates system, the Government encouraged Local Authorities to include these businesses as a priority group for the Discretionary Grant Fund.
In terms of rent assistance, the Government encourages tenants to continue to pay their rent in full where they are in a position to do so, although we recognise that others may not be in this position. We welcome the fact that many local authorities and other operators have been able to be flexible in their approach and negotiate suitable arrangements including rent concessions for a significant number of market traders in support of the industry, recognising the financial strain the pandemic has placed on their finances.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what financial support is available for self-employed publicans who are not eligible for (a) universal credit and (b) the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - Leader of HM Official Opposition
The Self-employment Income Support Scheme is just one element of a comprehensive package of support available for individuals and businesses that publicans can benefit from. This package includes Bounce Back loans, tax deferrals, rental support, mortgage holidays, and other business support grants. More information about the full range of business support measures is available at www.gov.uk/government/collections/financial-support-for-businesses-during-coronavirus-covid-19.
As the Government now begins to re-open the economy, it is right that state support is reduced and the focus shifts to getting people back to work. On 8 July, the Government introduced the new Plan for Jobs which will make available up to £30 billion to assist in creating, supporting and protecting jobs. For example, it is supporting jobs through the Kickstart Scheme, protecting jobs by reducing the level of VAT for the hospitality and accommodation sector and creating jobs through £8.6 billion of infrastructure, decarbonisation and maintenance projects. This is alongside many other measures that will help support people and kickstart the economic recovery. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-plan-for-jobs-documents/a-plan-for-jobs-2020
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what financial support his Department is providing (a) nightclubs and (b) other business operating in the night time economy that have paused trading for a prolonged period of time as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - Leader of HM Official Opposition
The Government is aware of the intense disruption to businesses in the night time economy caused by the pandemic, and has sympathy with all those affected. Businesses in this industry are currently able to benefit from the Government’s unprecedented package of support:
Government have implemented a cautious and phased approach to reopening the economy, guided at all times by medical and scientific experts. It is Government’s objective to return to our way of life as soon as possible, and we are continuously reviewing our guidance, considering both the risks to public health and to the economy. However, nightclubs continue to present a risk to public health, and these venues should remain closed or be supported by their local authority to adapt, for example by temporarily repurposing their premises.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to (a) backdate the stamp duty holiday for people who have recently purchased a property and (b) provide financial support to people who have recently moved home with reduced disposable income to spend on renovations.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
To boost the housing market and confidence, the Government has decided to cut Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) by temporarily increasing the nil band rate of SDLT to £500,000. This applies from 8 July 2020 to 31 March 2021 and will not be backdated.
Property sales which have exchanged but not yet completed will still be eligible to take advantage of the Stamp Duty holiday.
The Government has also confirmed a range of other housing announcements, including a new £2bn ‘Green Homes Grant’ for homeowners and landlords.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will allocate funding for financial support for people who are moving homes whose household income has been adversely affected by the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Government has introduced a temporary increase to the Nil Rate Band of Residential SDLT from £125k to £500k. This will apply from 8 July 2020 until 31 March 2021 and will mean that nearly 9 out of 10 people getting onto or moving up the property ladder will pay no SDLT at all, saving on average £4,500. The Government has also raised the Local Housing Allowance rate to the 30th percentile, providing additional financial support for private renters. These measures, alongside other interventions in the Plan for Jobs announced by the Chancellor on 8 July, mean that people can be more confident to move.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to provide additional financial support to disadvantaged areas in Wolverhampton South West constituency; and what steps he is taking to tackle levels of unemployment in that constituency area.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - Leader of HM Official Opposition
The government recognises that every region and community will be feeling the impact of this crisis and remains committed to helping the unemployed return to work and supporting those most vulnerable to job losses.
The Government has taken unprecedented steps to support people and businesses around the country, including in Wolverhampton. This includes the Coronavirus Job Retention scheme, where in the West Midlands as of 31 May, we have supported about 697,000 jobs. We have also supported 185,000 self-employed in West Midlands through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, with claims for grants worth £521m. Local Authorities have also paid out about £10.57 billion of business grants from the Small Business Grant Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund – including over £1bn to around 88,600 business premises in the West Midlands (by 28th June). We have also allocated £58m of the hardship fund to the West Midlands.
Looking ahead, the government has allocated up to £124.1 million to fund shovel-ready projects across the West Midlands to help provide a boost to the local economy and create jobs. This investment is being targeted on areas that are facing the biggest economic challenges as a result of the pandemic. We have allocated £84m through the Brownfield Fund to deliver much needed new homes in the West Midlands while protecting greenfield sites from unnecessary development. We have also allocated £12.75 million accelerated funding from the Towns Fund to kick-start activity in towns and high streets in 15 towns across the West Midlands including Wolverhampton, helping them to meet immediate challenges from the pandemic.
We will continue to work closely with local areas to make sure that individuals and businesses are directed to the right support during this difficult period