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Covid-19: Economy Update
22 October 2020
Lead MP
Rishi Sunak
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
EconomyEmploymentLocal Government
Other Contributors: 56
At a Glance
Rishi Sunak raised concerns about covid-19: economy update in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
The Prime Minister outlined a balanced approach to tackling coronavirus, taking difficult decisions to save lives while protecting jobs. The government will provide billions of pounds for local authorities and a grant scheme worth up to half a billion pounds monthly for businesses affected by closures. For areas in alert level 3, over £1 billion is available for grants to support businesses, protect jobs, and aid economic recovery. A new grant scheme is introduced for businesses impacted by tier 2 restrictions, providing direct cash grants of up to £2,100 per month retroactively from August. The job support scheme will cover two-thirds of employees' wages, with a reduction in employer contribution to 5% if they work less than 20% of normal hours. Additionally, self-employed income support is doubled from 20% to 40%, increasing the maximum grant to £3,750.
Mel Stride
Con
Central Devon
Question
Welcomed the statement, referencing SAGE minutes that highlight the need for policy makers to consider economic impacts alongside epidemiological assessments. Asked for updates on progress by the chief economist and suggested including an economic expert in No. 10 press briefings.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the importance of balancing job protection with life-saving measures, confirmed that analysis is ongoing under the auspices of the Chief Economist, and stated that presenting this analysis at press conferences would be considered.
Alison Thewliss
SNP
Glasgow Central
Question
This is the third statement from the Chancellor in a month, indicating panic and chaos. The Opposition calls for certainty, extending furlough and self-employment income support scheme at earlier rates to protect jobs and livelihoods, addressing gaps in benefits for carers, asylum seekers, those with disabilities and no recourse to public funds. Sectors like culture, arts, hospitality, tourism, transport are not going back to normal soon; the Chancellor's scheme needs to align with Scottish Government’s public health proposals and provide clarity on Barnett consequentials.
Minister reply
The original job support scheme was warmly welcomed by business groups and trade unions but as health restrictions impact sectors like hospitality, measures have been taken for certainty through at least six months. The UK Government will ensure people benefit from this support wherever they are in the United Kingdom, providing up-front guarantees to devolved nations worth £14 billion.
Robert Largan
Con
Rother Valley
Question
Welcoming the Chancellor's expansion of job support scheme and business grants for tier 2, urging quick guidance to councils so businesses can urgently access funds.
Minister reply
The grant value will be calculated on hospitality, leisure and accommodation premises, scaled by rateable value with a 5% discretionary top-up. Local authorities will use discretion to allocate money as fit for their local area.
Angela Eagle
Lab
Wallasey
Question
The Chancellor’s support seems inadequate and partisan as he tries to achieve local lockdowns on the cheap, not replicating March's support.
Minister reply
Providing £200 billion of total support for public services like the NHS, people’s jobs, livelihoods and businesses. The Government will continue to adapt and evolve as circumstances demand.
Bernard Jenkin
Con
Harwich and North Essex
Question
Aligning interests of business and economy with controlling the virus is essential; can we draw back from partisanship that has soured relations?
Minister reply
It's important to adopt a constructive and collegiate approach in tackling this crisis, working together to emerge stronger on the other side.
Gerald Jones
Lab
Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare
Question
Welsh First Minister asks for early access to job support scheme or easing furlough rules for one week during a 17-day firebreak lockdown in Wales, requesting flexibility.
Minister reply
Avoiding overlapping schemes at the same time to reduce bureaucracy. The UK Government and UK taxpayer will fund individual decisions made by devolved nations.
Andrew Mitchell
Con
Sutton Coldfield
Question
Welcoming measures announced for significant and generous support, especially addressing hospitality industry jeopardy between tiers 2 and 3.
Minister reply
The Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street's arguments helped inform decisions to act swiftly to provide support.
Patrick Grady
SNP
West Dunbartonshire
Question
Asks if Chancellor regrets ruling out a universal basic income in spring and calculates its impact compared with myriad schemes, asking about long-term costs on economy and society.
Minister reply
Providing targeted support to those most in need through measures like strengthening safety net with billions invested in universal credit and local housing allowance.
Scott Benton
Labour/Democratic Unionist Party
Lancashire West
Question
Welcoming the Chancellor's statement, Scott Benton raises concerns about businesses in Lancashire that are not mandated to close but will still suffer under tier 3 restrictions. He asks for additional support through grants and extensions of the job support scheme.
Minister reply
Rishi Sunak assures Scott Benton that the funding allocated to Lancashire includes support for open businesses affected by tier 3 restrictions, highlighting the enhanced job support scheme with reduced employer contributions.
Christine Jardine
Lib Dem
Edinburgh West
Question
Expressing disappointment in the Chancellor's partial U-turn, Christine Jardine calls for clear leadership and a more comprehensive approach to supporting businesses. She asks specifically about extending the job retention scheme beyond October.
Minister reply
Rishi Sunak responds by pointing out that the new job support scheme is actually more generous than the original job retention scheme, with employers contributing only 5% of wages.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
Welcoming the Chancellor's commitment to supporting businesses across the UK, Jim Shannon highlights the challenges faced by the distribution sector in delivering goods to closed hospitality venues. He asks about available support for this sector.
Minister reply
Rishi Sunak acknowledges the importance of supply chains and mentions a 5% discretionary top-up within tier 2 grants that local authorities can use to address specific needs such as those highlighted by Jim Shannon.
Matt Vickers
Con
Stockton South
Question
Praising the Chancellor for his support measures, Matt Vickers thanks him and requests assurances about continued review of the situation.
Minister reply
Rishi Sunak expresses gratitude towards Matt Vickers' compliments and provides reassurance that he will continue to assess the evolving situation.
Navendu Mishra
Lab
Stockport
Question
Highlighting the hardship faced by pubs and bars in Stockport due to tier 3 restrictions, Navendu Mishra requests a more substantial support package.
Minister reply
Rishi Sunak explains that businesses like pubs will be eligible for business rate cash grants of up to £3,000 per month and can use the expanded job support scheme at no cost to employers.
Question
Acknowledging the Chancellor's statement, Andrew Jones expresses relief that Harrogate and Knaresborough remains in tier 1 while supporting areas around them. He asks about potential impacts on jobs if restrictions increase.
Minister reply
Rishi Sunak agrees with Andrew Jones' assessment and emphasises the importance of tailored support to protect supply chains and save jobs.
Kerry McCarthy
Lab
Bristol East
Question
Highlighting the difficulties faced by exhibition companies due to misunderstanding about eligibility for grants, Kerry McCarthy urges the Chancellor to meet with representatives of this sector.
Minister reply
Rishi Sunak assures that businesses in exhibition and events spaces will be included under hospitality, leisure and accommodation categories eligible for tier 2 grants.
Andrew Griffith
Con
Arundel and South Downs
Question
Acknowledging the need to tailor responses based on circumstances, Andrew Griffith expresses support for avoiding a national circuit breaker.
Minister reply
Rishi Sunak agrees with Andrew Griffith's view that tailored measures are preferable to blunt instruments which might cause unnecessary hardship and job losses.
Alex Norris
Lab Co-op
Nottingham North
Question
Concerned about the lack of consultation before placing Nottingham in tier 3, Alex Norris asks for a package of support to protect jobs and businesses.
Minister reply
Rishi Sunak outlines various forms of financial assistance available, including business rate grants up to £3,000 per month and local authority support provided centrally.
Stephen Metcalfe
Con
South Basildon and East Thurrock
Question
I warmly welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement and thank him for supporting people and businesses across Essex. Already more than 15,000 people have benefited from the furlough scheme, and more than 5,000 from the self-employment income support scheme. These additional measures to support those who have been adversely affected by the recent introduction of tier 2 in Essex are welcome. Will he confirm that he will continue to do whatever it takes to support our country and our economy?
Minister reply
I can give my hon. Friend that assurance. He mentioned some numbers, and that is ultimately what it is about. We stand in this place and talk about many billions of pounds and policy, but often it is about the people and the jobs and livelihoods that we are trying to protect. I am delighted to hear that the 20,000 people he mentioned have benefited from the support that this Government have put in place, and I can give him and them the assurance that we will continue to do exactly that.
Ben Lake
PC
Ceredigion Preseli
Question
As Wales enters a firebreak lockdown tomorrow evening, there are concerns that there will be a week-long gap in support between the end of the furlough scheme and the introduction of the new wage support scheme. It would be good if the Chancellor could consider giving Welsh businesses early access to that scheme. May I ask him to clarify the eligibility criteria, in particular whether seasonal workers will be eligible for support?
Minister reply
There will not be any gap in support, I am pleased to tell the hon. Gentleman, because, as he knows, the CJRS runs all the way to the end of this month and the job support scheme starts on 1 November. There will be complete coverage and no interruption. We provided Barnett funding on the grants from the moment I announced them, so that is also available to the Welsh Government. With regard to the specific treatment of seasonal workers and the computation of the reference earnings, that is set out in the guidance for the CJRS and that will remain consistent in the new job support scheme.
Richard Fuller
Con
North Bedfordshire
Question
In his statement on 8 July, my right hon. Friend said his measures would be always ‘unencumbered by dogma’ and ‘driven always by the simple desire to do what is right.’—[Official Report, 8 July 2020; Vol. 678, c. 937.] He was right then and he is right today in announcing these measures. I noted the extension in support for the self-employed, which will now extend all the way through to April. Will my right hon. Friend assure me that he is also working with the Health Secretary to ensure that we are doing whatever we can to get self-employed people and everyone else into work and back to work without restrictions as quickly as possible?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The self-employed are a part of the entrepreneurial side of our economy that will help to drive our recovery. It is right that they receive support and I am proud that the support we have put in place—over £13 billion benefiting almost 3 million people—is one of the most comprehensive and generous packages of support for the self-employed. Ultimately, however, his last point is the one we should focus on. The best way to help people is to allow them to get on and do the job they love doing, and allow them to trade.
Chris Bryant
Lab
Rhondda and Ogmore
Question
I am not going to quibble; I think all of this is good and I am delighted that it is being announced today. However, I just want to say to the Chancellor that some of the measures he has announced apply across the whole of the UK and some apply only in England. That provides a lot of confusion for a lot of ordinary people out in the country who do not watch what we are doing in here every day and do not follow every element of the minutiae. Will he clarify precisely how much of the money he is announcing today is really new money to be spent in England through local authorities on the new business grants in tier 2 areas? How much extra money—I do not want to know about the earlier £14 billion for the devolved nations—because of Barnett consequentials is now coming to Wales?
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his comments. He is right and I can appreciate the confusion. We try to do things on a UK-wide level, but obviously not everything will be on that level. I cannot give him a precise figure, because these are demand-led schemes. What we have tried to do is provide upfront funding guarantees in advance of that demand being drawn down in England and the Barnett consequentials being delivered. We true those up on a regular basis—I am happy to write to him with further details—but we try to provide the funding to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in advance of that demand actually occurring in England. I think that is a better and more generous approach for the devolved nations.
Laura Trott
Con
Sevenoaks
Question
I welcome the Chancellor’s statement. Keeping a link to viable jobs is absolutely crucial, so does my right hon. Friend agree that it is better to keep businesses open and functioning where possible with support, rather than locking down nationally, multiple times?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. When I talk to both businesses and employees, they say that what they want is to be able to go to the jobs they love. They want to be able to do that. They want to be able to serve customers and they want to be able to welcome us all back to their restaurants, pubs, cafés and so on. She is right that we have to strike that balance. I think the approach that the Government have taken does that—it strikes that balance. The support we have put in place today will enable as many of those people to remain in their job working hard and hopefully have a fulfilling future to come.
Deidre Brock
SNP
Edinburgh North and Leith
Question
It is good to see the Chancellor has found the magic money tree of Tory myth and given it another shake, but the money needs to go to the self-employed, the smallest businesses and the poorest households. He will have total control of VAT soon. Will he look at cutting tax on household essentials? Will he target the support for job retention schemes at the smallest businesses, so they can continue to employ people, rather than offsetting the wage bill of some supermarkets? Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose are not feeling the pinch the way that small enterprises are feeling it. Will he send the cash where it will do the most good?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is right in saying that support should now be targeted at where it can make the most difference. That is why our approach has evolved through this crisis, and what was universal at the beginning and at the peak of the crisis has now evolved into a more targeted approach. To give one example, a difference between the job support scheme and the old furlough scheme is that now large businesses—precisely the kinds of businesses she mentioned—will not be able to access the job support scheme, especially with its new, more generous terms, unless that business is seeing revenue decline. That sensible change means that support is rightly targeted at smaller and medium-sized businesses that need our help at this difficult time, and not at the large businesses that are not seeing any change to their business model.
Naseem Shah
Lab
Bradford West
Question
I do not need to tell the Chancellor about the way we are going, with the economy plunging further into a crisis. The biggest thing that businesses in my constituency tell me is that uncertainty is their biggest enemy. We have now been under extra restrictions for more than 150 days. If we go into tier 3, and given that the Chancellor does not want a planned circuit breaker, what support will he give to businesses in my constituency of Bradford West? Importantly, how long should they be prepared for uncertainty?
Minister reply
I am pleased to tell the hon. Lady that the tier 2 grants that I announced today will be backdated, so that her businesses and local authority will receive funding that is backdated to when they entered tier 2 restrictions. I think those grants worth up to £2,000 over a month will be of enormous support to businesses in her constituency, at what I appreciate is a difficult time.
James Wild
Con
North West Norfolk
Question
Although Norfolk remains in tier 1, the additional support for hospitality, tourism and other businesses is welcome. As well as the short-term measures in this plan for jobs, looking longer term, will my right hon. Friend bring forward proposals in the spending review for tourism zones, including one for Norfolk and Suffolk? Will he accelerate the roll-out of gigabit broadband for businesses in North West Norfolk, so that they benefit sooner from greater connectivity?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend regularly reminds us all about the importance of digital connectivity in rural areas such as his, and indeed mine, and he will know, as I do, that the Government are committed to bringing both gigabit-capable broadband and mobile phone networks to all the parts of our country that otherwise might not have as strong connectivity as they would like. I know he will join me in welcoming that, as it will make an enormous difference to the local economy in his and other rural areas.
Debbie Abrahams
Lab
Oldham East and Saddleworth
Question
Twenty-three OECD countries had job subsidy schemes in place for a major event such as a pandemic, but unfortunately, the UK was not one of them. The Government’s piecemeal approach to the pandemic is leading many of my constituents to ask why we were so poorly prepared for it in every single way. In Oldham East and Saddleworth, unemployment has nearly doubled since March. We know now that across the country nearly 300,000 people were not eligible for social security support. A third of those people were disabled and one in 10 were from the north-west. How many low-income workers covered by this new financial package will be excluded from social security support to top up their wages?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is right to say that we did not have a wage support scheme when we entered this crisis, which is why I place on record my thanks to the fantastic team of officials at the Treasury and at HMRC for acting with unbelievable speed and decisiveness in helping me to create, design, and implement these schemes in record time, enabling us to help pay the wages and protect the jobs of more than 9 million people.
Luke Evans
Con
Hinckley and Bosworth
Question
Last night I had a meeting with the Hinckley business improvement district and met businesses that raised concerns about what would happen should they go into tier 2. In the spirit of listening, will the Chancellor consider providing a road map for businesses that are struggling the most to try to provide some clarity and certainty going forward?
Minister reply
The Chancellor acknowledges the impact on businesses in tier 2 and is actively working with industry and health professionals to facilitate greater ease of travel. The employer contribution under the job retention scheme will be significantly reduced from November.
Question
Given that Northern Ireland had to go into tighter restrictions earlier than other parts of the UK, will the Chancellor reconsider the timescale of the new scheme and backdate the 5% employer contribution to 16 October?
Minister reply
The grants are backdated and any extra Barnett consequentials will flow to Northern Ireland. The job support scheme's employer contribution will be significantly reduced from November.
Question
How quickly can we expect the grants to hit businesses in Bishop Auckland?
Minister reply
The funding will be available on a monthly basis, one month after the restrictions start. The Treasury team is working quickly to get the guidance out.
Question
Given the regional packages announced for England, can the Chancellor tell us exactly what the Barnett consequentials will be?
Minister reply
The Chancellor refers to his answer to a previous question and notes that £14 billion in up-front funding guarantees have been provided to devolved nations.
Question
Can the Chancellor look carefully at support for the events sector, which is crucial for London's economy?
Minister reply
The guidance will be fixed where businesses are legally required not to open but not closed and do not benefit from some support. Events and exhibitions are included in tier 2 grants.
Nick Smith
Lab
Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney
Question
Does the Chancellor accept that taking £1,000 a year away from families who need it will be tough?
Minister reply
The temporary uplift of universal credit is in place until next spring to support vulnerable families throughout the winter.
Gagan Mohindra
Con
South West Hertfordshire
Question
Does he agree that the approach needs to remain pragmatic with an evolution of policy, to give more certainty to communities?
Minister reply
The Chancellor agrees that it is right to be flexible and nimble in the face of something we have never seen before.
Question
Will he look at provisions for millions who still fall through the holes in his schemes?
Minister reply
The support for self-employed people is among the most comprehensive and generous anywhere, approximating almost £13 billion for almost 3 million people.
Barnsley South
Question
In Barnsley, unemployment has doubled in six months. Should the people of Barnsley expect unemployment to rise or death rates to rise?
Minister reply
The Chancellor is adopting a balanced approach that involves regional and tiered strategies to suppress the virus while protecting livelihoods.
Question
Will he do everything he can to ensure that a circuit breaker or fire break lockdown does not happen?
Minister reply
The Chancellor agrees with his hon. Friend that it would be damaging to inflict unnecessary pain and suffering on businesses, so the Government's approach of regional and tiered strategy is right.
Tony Lloyd
Lab
Manchester Central
Question
The Chancellor will recognise that, although the tier system is only a few weeks old, Greater Manchester has been de facto in tier 2 for three months. Can he be absolutely clear: will the grants for Greater Manchester go back to the beginning of their period of de facto tier 2?
Minister reply
Yes, I can provide that reassurance. For all areas suffering essentially de facto restrictions, we will backdate the grants through to the beginning of August as required and benefit many local businesses in Greater Manchester.
Neil Grey
Lab
Aberdeen South
Question
The Chancellor’s job support scheme has taken weeks to improve and it would have been better to keep furlough. Why did he not extend the £20 per week universal credit lifeline permanently?
Minister reply
We are more targeted in our approach with the job support scheme, ensuring large businesses that are not suffering revenue decline will not be able to access the scheme.
Huw Merriman
Con
Bexhill and Battle
Question
What steps are being taken to protect taxpayers from fraudulent claims in respect of those businesses open but needing less support?
Minister reply
We have evolved our approach to be more targeted, including new eligibility criteria for the job support scheme and conditions around redundancy notices and capital distributions.
Julian Sturdy
Con
York Outer
Question
Will the Chancellor assure him that the support announced will not be used to justify prolonging additional restrictions longer than necessary?
Minister reply
The best way to help businesses and protect jobs is to allow businesses to trade as normally as possible. The support announced today will not excuse prolonged restrictions.
Emma Hardy
Lab
Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice
Question
Coach companies are collapsing, what specific support can be given to the coach industry? Will a relevant Minister meet her and representatives of the sector?
Minister reply
I am happy to organise for a relevant Minister to meet her. Companies should consider accessing bounce back loans, business interruption loans, VAT deferral, and time to pay measures.
Kevin Hollinrake
Con
Thirsk and Malton
Question
Would the Chancellor phase in the reintroduction of full rates of VAT and business rates at slightly lower levels as businesses recover?
Minister reply
He will keep measures under review but future fiscal policy is for Budgets. The current focus should be on supporting jobs.
Richard Burgon
Lab
Leeds East
Question
Will the Chancellor introduce a wage floor so no furloughed worker lives off less than the minimum wage?
Minister reply
Very low-paid workers will benefit from universal credit, which replaces income falls with a top-up worth about 63p in the pound.
Gareth Davies
Con
Grantham and Bourne
Question
Is it vital to take decisive action today but be mindful of sustainability for tomorrow?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right; we must balance immediate support with future fiscal responsibility.
Andrew Gwynne
Ind
Gorton and Denton
Question
How soon will the retrospective funds be released to Greater Manchester businesses?
Minister reply
We will work quickly with the Valuation Office Agency to calculate grant values and release funding as swiftly as possible.
Saqib Bhatti
Con
Meriden
Question
Will the Chancellor join him in commending Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands?
Minister reply
Andy has rightly put on the agenda the situation for businesses in tier 2 areas and today’s measures will make a difference.
Bill Esterson
Lab
Sefton Central
Question
The Chancellor says that he will support only viable businesses. Kim runs a wedding photography business. She is self-employed and works from home and, like millions of people, she has not qualified for any of the measures that the Chancellor has announced. Weddings will need photographers again, and Kim already has 71 bookings for next year. Why is the Chancellor’s message to Kim, and millions like her, that he thinks her business is not viable?
Minister reply
If the hon. Member wants to write to me with Kim’s particular circumstances, I would be happy to see what various things we have done that may be of benefit to her and her business.
Question
I welcome this statement. It will ensure that the hospitality sector, even in those areas with much greater restrictions than my own, can hopefully keep going and come through this, as opposed to the approach of the Labour party, which would hammer the hospitality sector, even in areas such as mine, in Ipswich, where we currently have very low levels of covid. It will also give some reassurance to my constituents that, if the worst comes to the worst and cases increase, there is that additional support in place. One thing that these grants could be used on is winter heaters and gazebos, because we can still socialise outside in the winter months. I just wondered what the Chancellor’s thoughts were on that.
Minister reply
That is an interesting idea. Obviously, for areas in tier 3, the local authorities are receiving funding to use at their discretion. It may well be that that is an idea they want to take up.
Question
I warmly welcome the additional support for tier 2 areas, such as my constituency in London. Does my right hon. Friend agree that we need to get London back into tier 1 as soon as possible as London is the engine of this country’s economy, accounting for 25% of all tax revenue?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is a rightly proud champion of her businesses in central London. Obviously, what is happening not just to our capital city but to all our city centres is incredibly sad.
Stella Creasy
Lab Co-op
Walthamstow
Question
The Chancellor says that he has been talking to the people who are worried about their livelihoods and the businesses facing redundancy, so he will know that those redundancies are falling particularly heavily on mums. We know from the data produced by the Office for National Statistics last month that 79% of the increase in redundancies has come from women, and we know that it is mums who are losing their jobs, but his Department is sitting on £1.7 billion of unspent tax-free childcare funding. Will he use that money to ensure that our childcare sector can support every parent who wants to get back to work and to stop the tsunami of unemployment that we are about to face?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is right to highlight the particular importance of good-quality childcare, which, as she said, enables mums to be able to protect their employment.
Ben Spencer
Con
Runnymede and Weybridge
Question
I thank my right hon. Friend for the provisions announced today, which I very much welcome. My constituency is partly in tier 1 and partly in tier 2, and I especially welcome the support for tier 2 areas, but also across the board into tier 1. Many constituents who work in the wedding and events sector, or across its supply chains, have contacted me with difficulties due to restrictions, uncertainty and a drop in trade. Can my right hon. Friend confirm that today’s announcement will also support the events sector and, crucially, those working across its supply chain?
Minister reply
It is precisely because we took a generous and universal approach to eligibility for the job support scheme, with its new generosity, that supply chains of all affected industries will be able to benefit.
Clive Efford
Lab
Eltham
Question
There is no change in this announcement for people who are self-employed. A constituent of mine has contacted me. Back in March, she was assessed as earning too much to qualify for any assistance. Her income has now been revised down, but there is no way for her to appeal that original decision. This is no way to treat self-employed people. Can the Chancellor go away and look at these people who have fallen through the net?
Minister reply
Perhaps the hon. Gentleman missed that part of the statement; I apologise if it was not clear, but we have doubled the value of the self-employed grants that will be paid in the winter from 20% to 40%, mirroring the increase in the Government’s support for those who are in employment and ensuring parity between self-employed and employed.
Martin Vickers
Con
Brigg and Immingham
Question
I welcome the package announced by my right hon. Friend; he has quite rightly adapted the support that he is providing to the changing circumstances. May I look beyond the pandemic to the economic recovery, and urge continued support for my constituency in respect of the Greater Grimsby town deal? We also need broadband connectivity—and let me give a special mention in that regard for the village of Wold Newton. I know that he will be disappointed if I do not also mention free port status for Immingham and the Humber ports.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. It is important that we can look through this crisis to our economic recovery.
Dave Doogan
SNP
Angus and Perthshire Glens
Question
The nature of the Government’s interventions in this crisis are reactionary and there are significant gaps in the support. A principal casualty of those gaps are the 3 million excluded, who have had a devastating summer. The Chancellor has used the word “generous” over 20 times in this statement, so I urge him to advise me what support he will now give to the 3 million excluded. Will he do them the service not of telling us how he has supported other people, but of telling us what he will do for them?
Minister reply
The circumstances of everyone who is self-employed will be different.
Kieran Mullan
Con
Bexhill and Battle
Question
On behalf of the Hop Pole pub in Wistaston, Hickory’s Smokehouse in Shavington, Pillory House in Nantwich, Giovanni’s in Crewe and Eight Farmers in Leighton, all of whom have been telling about the difficulties that they have been facing, I thank the Chancellor for the support measures that he has announced today, which will have a huge impact on their ability to get through this troubling time. Will he confirm when the support will be available and whether it will be backdated for those of us who have been in tier 2 for some time?
Minister reply
If we are ending on this note, my hon. Friend has made me exceptionally hungry to hear that roll-call of great-sounding restaurants, which I hope I have a chance to visit with him.
Shadow Comment
Mel Stride
Shadow Comment
Welcomed the statement and highlighted that policy makers should consider economic impacts alongside epidemiological assessments. Called for updates on progress by the chief economist and suggested including an economic expert in No. 10 press briefings.
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