Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the correlation between local lockdown restrictions and (a) business survival rates and (b) unemployment in Oldham since 1 March 2020.

No assessment can be made on the correlation between local lockdown restrictions and business survival or unemployment rates since 1 March 2020, as business count and unemployment data at a local authority level will not be published until 2021.

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. 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.