Coronavirus: Disease Control

(asked on 20th January 2021) - View Source

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the financial effect of the extended duration of the covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions put in place in response to the covid-19 outbreak on (a) limited company directors, (b) the self-employed, (c) hospitality staff substantially remunerated through tronc payments and (d) others who have received no or limited Government support during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.


Answered by
Jesse Norman Portrait
Jesse Norman
This question was answered on 26th January 2021

The Government has provided substantial levels of support throughout this crisis to protect people’s jobs and livelihoods, and support businesses and public services across the UK. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) has helped to pay the wages of people in 9.9 million jobs across the country and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) has received claims from 2.7 million self-employed workers.

The Government has acknowledged that it has not been possible to support everyone as they might want and that the past months have been very difficult for many people.

The Government has put in place a wide-ranging £280 billion package of support including over £65 billion in affordable finance to firms through business loan schemes, a temporary £8 billion increase to welfare, mortgage holidays, help with council tax payments, business loans, grants, a business rates holiday, and tax cuts and VAT deferrals.

The resurgence of the virus has required further action to protect people’s health, while preserving the capacity of people to work and businesses to trade. The Government keeps the economic response to the pandemic under review.

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