Local Covid-19 Restrictions Economic Support 2020-10-20
2020-10-20
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Areas like Manchester face economic challenges due to local lockdown measures. The question seeks clarification on government support.
What plans does he have to provide additional economic support to areas affected by local covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement.
Earlier this month, I announced that businesses forced to close as a result of local restrictions will be eligible for a grant of up to £3,000 a month. Their employees will be protected through the expanded job support programme and councils will receive extra resources to help with local track and trace, enforcement and compliance.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Greater Manchester faces economic challenges due to local lockdown measures. The question seeks to criticize the government's financial support.
All that Greater Manchester is asking for is proper financial support for our businesses, our self-employed and our lowest paid after 12 weeks of failed lockdown measures and as we face many more uncertain months ahead. When the Prime Minister is reported as struggling to live on his £150,000 a year salary, how does he think the lowest paid in Greater Manchester will cope on two thirds of national minimum wage? Last night, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government offered just £22 million for a city region of 2.8 million people. That is less than the £25 million he granted to his own town centre. Why do this Government hate Greater Manchester?
It is disappointing to hear the hon. Gentleman's tone. It is obviously a very difficult time for many people in this country as we evolve our response to this virus, but what we need is people acting in a constructive spirit, and that is what my right hon. Friend the Communities Secretary is actively offering to do. I hope those conversations are happening as we speak.
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Assessment & feedback
Financial support adequacy for Greater Manchester
Dismissing Tone
Constructive Spirit
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Repeated local lockdowns are causing economic damage in South Shields. The question seeks details on financial support.
Repeated local lockdowns with no end in sight are killing our economy in South Shields. In the past lockdown, we received £26 million of support. I have been advised that the financial package offered to us this time, should we end up in tier 3, would be just over £1 million. Can the Chancellor confirm or deny that insulting amount?
I am glad the hon. Lady recognises the economic damage that lockdowns do, which is why, when we had this debate last week, I did pose the question as to why the Opposition were suggesting a national lockdown with no end in sight without commenting on the damage that would do to people's jobs and livelihoods.
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Assessment & feedback
Financial support adequacy for South Shields
Economic Damage From Lockdowns
National Versus Local
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Greater Manchester faces economic challenges due to local lockdown measures. The question seeks clarification on the fairness of provided financial support.
People and businesses in my constituency and across Greater Manchester are suffering. They are facing an uncertain winter with insufficient support. Last night, the Government offered just £22 million to the 2.8 million people in Greater Manchester. That comes to just £8 a head to support local people and businesses during the months ahead. Other areas were given double that amount, despite having just half the population. Does the Minister seriously believe this is a fair deal for Greater Manchester, and, if so, would he like to take this opportunity to apologise to those Mancunians who will lose or have already lost their livelihoods?
With the greatest respect, the hon. Gentleman is mistaken in his characterisation of the support provided and confusing two different things. He is absolutely right: the support is £8 a head. That is the national funding formula that is provided to all local authorities entering tier 3.
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Assessment & feedback
Support adequacy and fairness for Greater Manchester
National Funding Formula
Support Confusion
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
Lockdowns have economic and societal impacts. The question seeks a comprehensive review to understand these impacts.
My right hon. Friend has done a great deal to support jobs in our country, but he will know that lockdowns destroy jobs and lead to increased mental illness and a smaller economy that for many years will be less able to look after our most vulnerable. Does he agree that the Government should come forward urgently with a comprehensive review of the impact of lockdowns, not just in terms of epidemiology and the effect on the NHS, important though that is, but in terms of the economy, businesses, jobs and the country's social wellbeing?
As ever, my right hon. Friend makes an excellent point. He is right about the damage to not only non-covid health outcomes but people's jobs and livelihoods and the long-term damage that that will cause to all our health outcomes.
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Assessment & feedback
Comprehensive review timeline and scope
Damage To Jobs And Livelihoods
Long-Term Damage
Response accuracy
Q6
Direct Answer
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Context
The Prime Minister had previously stated that he would not rule out a circuit breaker. The question seeks clarity on this stance.
Last week, when the Prime Minister was asked whether a circuit breaker is likely, he said, “I rule out nothing”. Does the Chancellor rule it out—yes or no?
Of course I agree with the Prime Minister.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
Monetary Policy Committee stated that higher virus prevalence is associated with weaker economic performance. Research suggests a circuit breaker now could save £110 billion, based on IMF figures.
The Chancellor's estimate of the cost of not undertaking a circuit breaker and continuing with this rolling programme of regional restrictions?
The hon. Lady talks about rolling programmes. It is clear that the Labour party believes that we should have a rolling programme of national lockdowns. That would be enormously damaging for people's jobs and livelihoods, causing unnecessary pain and suffering in parts of the country where virus prevalence is low.
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Assessment & feedback
The cost estimate of not undertaking a circuit breaker was avoided
Changed Subject To National Lockdowns
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
Pubs and restaurants are being asked to close, but the support is less than in March. Furlough scheme is closing soon.
Will he take action today to extend the furlough scheme to ensure that people are protected and that those who have lost out and been excluded from support can be included this time?
We have announced the job support scheme, which will take effect on 1 November, following the closure of the coronavirus job retention scheme. Those who are working in closed businesses can be placed on that scheme and receive 67% of their wages—an amount comparable with all our European peers—at very little, if no, expense to the employer, helping them to protect those jobs.
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Assessment & feedback
Extending the furlough scheme was avoided
Introduced Job Support Scheme Instead
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
Scottish Government announced a £500 grant for the lowest paid workers, but it may be taxed by UK Government. Grant could provide an incentive to isolate.
Will the Chancellor go further than he has so far and exempt that £500 grant to the poorest in our society from taxation?
The hon. Lady talks about the Scottish Government introducing a £500 grant. It was the UK Government who introduced a £500 grant and provided Barnett funding for the Scottish Government to do the same. She is right that the grant payment is there to help those who are most vulnerable, so that they can isolate, and it provides an incentive for them to do so.
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Assessment & feedback
Exempting £500 grant from taxation was avoided
Credited Uk Government For The Grant
Response accuracy