Mr Thompson argued that limited company directors are not wealthy individuals but rather small business owners who have been unfairly penalized due to the way they structure their income. He cited statistics indicating that 2 million micro and small companies in the UK employ 7.5 million people, many of whom have struggled to access support during the crisis. Mr Thompson called for immediate action from the Treasury to address the issues faced by these groups, emphasising both the moral imperative and the economic benefits of providing support.

I am hugely grateful to the hon. Member for Midlothian (Owen Thompson) for allowing me to say a few words in this vital debate. I want to check that the Minister, the Chancellor and Treasury officials fully understand that the DISS proposal does not use dividend payments as the basis for calculating income support for directors but is based on CT600 taxable profits. As Northern Ireland has managed to develop a scheme that meets its high standards on avoiding fraud, can the Minister explain why it has been difficult for the Treasury? Will he correct the impression that directors of limited companies are less trustworthy than others who have benefited from Government support? If the DISS does not meet with Treasury approval, will the Minister commit to finding an alternative solution? Small limited company directors have received no income support since March last year and they are desperate. Up to 7.5 million UK jobs are reliant on small limited companies. The Government's actions are economically illiterate and morally untenable.

I congratulate the hon. Member for Midlothian on securing this debate, his contribution, and his tenacity in persisting with a debate on Burns night. The Government have provided a wide-ranging package of financial support worth £280 billion to individuals and businesses throughout the pandemic. Directors who pay themselves a salary through a PAYE scheme are eligible for the furlough scheme but dividends are not covered by this scheme nor by the self-employment income support scheme. We recognise that some company directors do not qualify for either support scheme due to the limitations of HMRC’s current reporting mechanisms. The Government continue to work closely with organisations to explore how these schemes can better support directors and others who have found themselves ineligible for main income support schemes. I am very grateful for the care and support that has gone into drawing up the proposal for the DISS, but as framed it does not overcome the fundamental issues of protecting taxpayers’ money and safeguarding against fraud and abuse.