Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he plans to take to support the parts of the gig economy which have experienced economic downturn during covid-19 lockdown and which have not benefitted from Government covid-19 financial support during covid-19 lockdown.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government provided unprecedented support to protect jobs and businesses. For example, some gig workers who are self-employed may have benefited from the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), designed to support the incomes of self-employed individuals who were temporarily unable to carry out their business or were impacted by reduced demand due to COVID-19, leading to a significant reduction in profits.

Government action has helped to lay the foundations for an economic recovery, and this plan is working: the UK has seen faster-than-anticipated growth, and a strong recovery in jobs across the country. The recent Budget and Spending Review builds on this, by taking action to help businesses - including those in the gig economy - to recover, invest, grow and create jobs. The Government is also taking steps to support families and working people, many of which will benefit those individuals who work in the gig economy.

Gig workers who claim Universal Credit will benefit from the reduced taper rate, which will help to make work pay; and from the Government’s new £99 million In-Work Progression offer, which will mean more people in work on Universal Credit will be able to access individualised work coach support to help them progress and increase their earnings.

Alongside individuals across the economy, gig economy workers should also benefit from investment in skills, announced at Spending Review 2021, which will give adults more opportunities to upskill and retrain to improve access to higher paid jobs. This includes continuing to offer free Level 3 courses in high value subjects, quadrupling the scale of Skills Bootcamps in growing sectors, and a brand new scheme to boost adult numeracy - Multiply. Improving numeracy can boost earnings by up to 14%.