Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Fiscal Support: Covid-19

Tuesday 20 October 2020 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government have provided an unprecedented package of support for people, businesses and public services throughout the UK, totalling more than 200 billion.
  • The current state of affairs was agreed between the Scottish Government and the UK Government after exhaustive consultation and discussion.
  • The Chancellor has been very clear that because we are in the midst of a pandemic, we are likely to see some redundancies.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Douglas Chapman SNP
Economy
Context

The question arises from the need to mitigate economic impacts of the pandemic. There is a demand for government assistance.

Question

What fiscal support he is providing to mitigate the economic effects of the covid-19 outbreak?

Answer from Jesse Norman

The Government have provided an unprecedented package of support for people, businesses and public services throughout the UK, totalling more than £200 billion. That has included helping to pay the wages of 9.6 million people through the job retention scheme and protecting the livelihoods of 2.6 million self-employed workers through the self-employment income support scheme.

Answered
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Q2 Allan Dorans
Scotland
Context

The Scottish Government lacks autonomy in providing targeted assistance due to limitations on borrowing powers. There is a demand for devolving these powers.

Question

Will the Government heed repeated calls for the devolution of borrowing powers to enable the Scottish Government to provide additional targeted assistance?

Answer from Jesse Norman

As the hon. Gentleman will know, the current state of affairs was agreed between the Scottish Government and the UK Government after exhaustive consultation and discussion by the Silk commission, and that remains the set-up to which the Scottish Government have committed themselves.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to devolving borrowing powers

How: The Current State Of Affairs Was Agreed Between The Scottish Government And The Uk Government After Exhaustive Consultation

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Q3 Douglas Chapman SNP
Economy Brexit
Context

With dual threats of Brexit and the pandemic, there is a risk of significant economic downturn leading to high unemployment rates. The question arises from concerns over adequate preparation.

Question

What are the Chancellor's economic advisers telling him about the Government's preparations for mass unemployment and the sectors that will be worst hit?

Answer from Jesse Norman

The Chancellor has been very clear that because we are in the midst of a pandemic, we are likely to see some redundancies. There is no doubt about the seriousness of the financial and economic situation that we are in. I remind the hon. Gentleman with regard to Scotland that there has been some £7 billion of support for the Scottish Government in dealing with the pandemic and its economic effects, over and above the £21.3 billion provided through the regular Barnett process.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Details on government's readiness and expert advice regarding unemployment and affected sectors

How: Reminds Of Previous Financial Support Without Addressing Specific Ask

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Q4 Abena Oppong-Asare Lab Erith and Thamesmead
Business & Trade
Context

Businesses in tiered regions face financial strain due to operational limitations without closure mandates. There is a demand for government support.

Question

What do the Government have to say to those businesses that realistically cannot operate but are not legally required to close?

Answer from Jesse Norman

We are acutely aware of the financial costs on those businesses, as we are of those on businesses that have been forced to close, and that is why we have put in place an evolving and comprehensive programme of support for business.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Details on specific measures for non-closed tier businesses

How: Aware Of Financial Costs But No Specific Details Provided

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