British Nationals Abroad: EU Countries

(asked on 22nd January 2021) - View Source

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to provide financial support to businesses that incur extra costs through having to apply for a visa to resume work in Europe.


Answered by
Kemi Badenoch Portrait
Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
This question was answered on 27th January 2021

The Government recognises that our new relationship with the EU requires businesses to adapt to new rules whilst at the same time responding to the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic.

We have already invested funds to help businesses adapt to changes, which includes:

  • £84 million made available by HMRC in grants for intermediaries and traders supporting recruitment, employee training and IT projects
  • scaling of our Growth Hub network in England to provide more support to SMEs locally
  • an economic package of support for businesses impacted by Covid-19 to provide certainty over the Winter months, including further support measures announced on 5 January.

Moreover, the Government is taking a flexible and pragmatic approach to allow businesses to prepare. For example, recognising the impact of Coronavirus, we decided to introduce our border controls in three stages up until 1 July 2021, giving businesses extra time to adjust to the new procedures.

Going forward, we are continuing to engage intensively with business in sectors that are most affected by our changing relationship with the EU to help them adjust and to continue to successfully compete on the global stage.

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