Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19: Ineligibility for Income Support Schemes

Tuesday 9 March 2021 · 2 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial fiscal steps include extending the furlough scheme and the self-employment income support scheme through to September.
  • Welsh Government will receive over 740 million in Barnett consequentials due to the UK Budget.
  • The UK Government is now able to include those who filed tax returns for the self-employment income support scheme.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Stephen Doughty Labour (Co-op) Cardiff South and Penarth
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

MP is concerned about people ineligible for the government's income support schemes during the pandemic.

Question

What fiscal steps he is taking to help support people ineligible for his Department's covid-19 income support schemes.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

In order to support people through the next stages of the pandemic, the Government have extended both the furlough scheme and the self-employment income support scheme through to September, which will help millions of people up and down the country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked about fiscal steps for those ineligible, but the answer focused on existing schemes extended to eligible individuals without addressing the specific ask.

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Q2 Stephen Doughty Labour (Co-op) Cardiff South and Penarth
Economy Wales Business & Trade
Context

The Welsh Government has announced additional support for the creative sector, highlighting gaps in UK Government support. The questioner raises concerns about people who have been excluded from UK government support.

Question

I thank the Chancellor for his answer. The Welsh Labour Government this week announced a further £30 million to support hospitality and tourism, and freelancers working in our creative sectors are going to get a further round of support worth £8.9 million—this is targeting support to fill gaps left by the Chancellor. I accept that many people have had welcome support, but huge numbers of people are coming up to a year of little or no support because they have been excluded from UK Government support over the past year. What will the Chancellor do for all those excluded, left out and left behind the curve over the past year?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

I am glad the Welsh Government will receive more than £740 million in Barnett consequentials as a result of this Budget, which works for the whole United Kingdom. With regard to the self-employment scheme, what I can say is that we are now able to bring in those people who filed tax returns for the first time in the tax year 2019-20. That was something that many colleagues asked for. I am pleased that we were able to deliver that now that the tax deadline has passed, and it means that more than 600,000 more people will be able to benefit from this world-leading support for the self-employed.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked about providing support for those excluded over a year, but the answer focused on extending eligibility for tax returns and did not address previous exclusions or new measures for ongoing support.

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