Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of providing additional long term sectoral support to the (a) live performance and (b) wedding industries through a further extension of the (i) 5 per cent VAT reduced rate for the tourism and hospitality sector, (ii) Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and (iii) Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

The Government recognises the extreme disruption the actions needed to combat COVID-19 are having on sectors like live events and weddings.

Eligible events and businesses may already benefit from available employment schemes, Government grant and loan schemes, a reduction in VAT and business rates relief; as well as the Culture Recovery Fund which has already supported thousands of organisations including theatres, music venues, comedy clubs and festivals. At Budget, the Chancellor extended many of these economic support schemes beyond the end of the Roadmap to accommodate even the most cautious view about the time it might take to exit restrictions.

As announced at Budget, the Government has extended the temporary reduced rate of VAT for the tourism and hospitality sector. The 5% rate will now end on 30 September 2021. On 1 October 2021, a new reduced rate of 12.5% will be introduced for these goods and services to help businesses manage the transition back to the standard rate. The new rate will end on 31 March 2022. While the Government keeps all taxes under review, this relief comes at a significant cost to the Exchequer, and there are no plans to extend the scope of the reduced rate. This policy will cost over £7 billion, and while some businesses in some sectors are disappointed, a boundary for eligibility had to be drawn.

At Budget, the Government also extended the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) for a further five months from May until the end of September 2021. Furloughed workers in the UK will continue to receive more generous support than those in many other countries, as the CJRS ensures employees receive 80% of their current salary for hours not worked, up to £2,500 per month, until the end of September.

The Government also announced at Budget that the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will continue until September, with a fourth and a final fifth grant. This provides certainty to business as the economy reopens.