Financial Support Schemes Equitable Access 2021-01-26
2021-01-26
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Concerns about individuals unable to work due to home schooling and other government guidelines, leading to a lack of equitable financial support.
If he will ensure that people who are unable to participate in work as a result of (a) home schooling and (b) following other Government covid-19 guidance have equitable access to financial support schemes. The Chancellor has let the financial burden of covid-19 fall on women. They have undertaken twice as much home schooling as men. One in five have had to cut their hours. Some 78% of working mothers have not been offered furlough and 71% of those who asked for it have been refused.
Since their introduction, the coronavirus job retention scheme and the self-employment income support scheme have been available to those unable to go to work because of caring responsibilities arising from covid-19. Those who are unable to work from home and have been told to shield have also been eligible for these support schemes, as well as for statutory sick pay and employment and support allowance. The truth is that this pandemic has had a desperately difficult effect for the whole of the UK economy, and for families and people across our country and regions. Many women have found themselves in the position of either caring for home schooling or vulnerable individuals. They are supported and protected through the schemes we have put in place.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask for an equality impact assessment was not addressed.
Under Review
Support Available
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
A high percentage of working mothers have not been offered furlough and many who asked for it were refused, leading to disproportionate economic burdens on women.
The Chancellor has let the financial burden of covid-19 fall on women. They have undertaken twice as much home schooling as men. One in five have had to cut their hours. Some 78% of working mothers have not been offered furlough and 71% of those who asked for it have been refused. Will the Chancellor recognise that once again women have disproportionately paid the price of the inequality in his policies? Will he undertake an immediate equality impact assessment and set out in his Budget how he will offer redress for these widening gendered inequalities?
The truth is that this pandemic has had a desperately difficult effect for the whole of the UK economy, and for families and people across our country and regions. It is appropriate to recognise the totality of the difficulty we find ourselves in. Many women have found themselves in the position of either caring for home schooling or vulnerable individuals. They are supported and protected through the schemes we have put in place.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask for an equality impact assessment was not addressed.
Under Review
Support Available
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Employers are refusing to offer furlough for childcare reasons, leaving parents unsure of who to report this to and what actions will be taken.
Most employers will want to do the right thing, but where an employer is refusing to follow the guidance and offer a parent furlough for childcare reasons, can the Minister tell me who the parent should report that to and what action will be taken?
As the hon. Member will know, furlough is an arrangement reached between companies and their employees. Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and the Government do not have direct involvement in that. What they say is that where an agreement can be reached between the two sides we will support them, as laid out in one of the most generous schemes available in any country around the world.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask for reporting mechanisms and actions against non-compliant employers was not addressed.
Under Review
Support Available
Response accuracy