Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19: Support for Businesses

Tuesday 24 March 2020 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 5 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Mark Pritchard asked the Chancellor about plans for supporting the self-employed and freelancers, emphasizing their immediate need.
  • Richard Thomson inquired if the Government would consider implementing a universal basic income, to which the Chancellor responded they are strengthening the welfare system instead, investing over 7 billion.
  • Derek Thomas requested urgent action to ensure the sustainability of a local transport infrastructure system, affecting 2,500 people, and the Chancellor offered to discuss the issue further.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mark Pritchard Con The Wrekin
Employment Business & Trade
Context

Mark Pritchard highlights the significant number of self-employed workers in the UK and The Wrekin.

Question

On behalf of my constituents, I welcome those announcements. The Chancellor is aware that 15% of the UK workforce is self-employed, equating to about 5 million people up and down the country. According to the Federation of Small Businesses, there are 5,600 in The Wrekin. Given this context, when will the Government come forward with plans for the self-employed and freelancers, given their urgent need?

Answer from Rishi Sunak (The Chancellor of the Exchequer)

I thank my hon. Friend for the question. I will be making further announcements about progress on these measures. We are in intense dialogue with all key stakeholder groups, including calls today with several bodies. While designing a scheme analogous to the one for employed workers is complex due to practical and principled reasons, we understand the situation self-employed people face and are determined to support them fairly and deliverably.

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Q2 Mark Pritchard Con The Wrekin
Employment
Context

Detected that 15% of the UK workforce is self-employed, equating to about 5 million people. In The Wrekin, there are 5,600.

Question

When will the Government come forward with plans for the self-employed and freelancers, given the immediacy of their need?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

We are looking at these things. We are in dialogue with all key stakeholder groups including calls with several bodies today. The scheme is complicated to design, but we understand the situation and will find a way to support them while ensuring it is deliverable and fair.

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Q3 Richard Thomson SNP Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
Taxation Benefits & Welfare
Context

Inquires about using the tax and welfare system to roll out a universal basic income.

Question

Will he consider using the tax and welfare system to roll out a universal basic income in these times?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

We are not in favour of a universal basic income, but we have strengthened safety net with over £7 billion invested into improving welfare system this year including improvements to universal credit, employment support allowance and local housing allowance.

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Q4 Derek Thomas Con St Ives
Transport Local Government
Context

The Isles of Scilly, unique in relying on private companies for travel and supplies, face a collapse of tourist trade.

Question

Can the Chancellor look at this issue urgently to ensure 2,500 people's transport infrastructure system is sustained?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

Happy to talk further about his constituency issue. We have committed to providing local authorities with funding required to support public services including local transport infrastructure in their communities.

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Q5 Wes Streeting Lab West Ham
Economy Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

Acknowledges the measures announced last week but highlights anxiety among those not benefiting, particularly the 5 million self-employed.

Question

How quickly can he implement support measures to reassure them about cash-flow crisis?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

Looking at pace of delivery. Challenge is targeting support within varied universe of 5 million self-employed. We are looking to build a new system, prioritising scheme for employed workforce first, ideally by end of April. Deferring self-assessment tax return and VAT helps with cash flow.

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