Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has plans to introduce financial support for independent schools affected by the covid-19 outbreak which are not eligible for the business interruption loan scheme.

As both my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer, have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.

Our latest guidance setting out the financial support that is available to independent schools is set out below: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care#independent-schools.

The guidance clarifies that this financial support includes the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, which many independent schools will be eligible to apply for, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for furloughed workers and the Statutory Sick Pay relief scheme for non-public sector employers.

These are rapidly developing circumstances. We continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.