Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Financial Support Schemes: Equitable Access

Tuesday 26 January 2021 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial support schemes are available to those unable to work due to caring responsibilities related to covid-19.
  • The Chancellor acknowledged the pandemic's difficult impact on the UK economy and families, recognizing the challenges faced by many women.
  • Employers are responsible for offering furlough to employees for childcare reasons, with HMRC and the Government supporting agreements between companies and their employees.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
Benefits & Welfare Women & Equalities
Context

Concerns about individuals unable to work due to home schooling and other government guidelines, leading to a lack of equitable financial support.

Question

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.

Answer from Jesse Norman

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for an equality impact assessment was not addressed.

How: Under Review, Support Available

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Q2 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
Women & Equalities
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Jesse Norman

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for an equality impact assessment was not addressed.

How: Under Review, Support Available

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Q3 James Murray Labour (Co-op) Ealing North
Employment Benefits & Welfare
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Jesse Norman

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for reporting mechanisms and actions against non-compliant employers was not addressed.

How: Under Review, Support Available

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