Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will provide support for (a) PAYE zero hour contract workers, (b) casual workers and (c) seasonal workers who cannot access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is open to employees on any type of employment contract, including full-time, part-time, agency, fixed-term, flexible or zero hour contracts. As well as employees, other workers may also be eligible if they are paid via PAYE. To be eligible for the CJRS, employees must have been on their employer’s PAYE payroll on or before 19 March 2020 and HMRC must have received an RTI submission notifying payment in respect of that employee on or before 19 March 2020. Full guidance can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme.

Those not eligible for the scheme may have access to other support which the Government is providing, including a package of temporary welfare measures and up to three months’ mortgage payment holidays for those who may be in difficulty with mortgage payments.