Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will issue guidance to big businesses using the Job Retention Scheme to not issue large bonuses to their executives.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is designed to help employers whose operations have been severely affected by coronavirus to retain their employees and protect the UK economy. All employers are eligible for the scheme and the Government recognises that different businesses will face different impacts from coronavirus.

To claim, employers must have created and started a PAYE payroll scheme on or before 19 March 2020; enrolled for PAYE online; and have a UK bank account. No other eligibility conditions apply. Full guidance can be found at: www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme. Adding further restrictions would reduce the number of employees who would be eligible for this important financial support.