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<p>Throughout this crisis, the government has sought to protect people’s jobs and
livelihoods while also supporting businesses and public services across the UK, including
in Bolton. To do this, the government has put in place an economic package of support
which will provide businesses and individuals with certainty over the coming months,
even as measures to prevent further spread of the virus change. The government has
spent over £280 billion this year to provide this support.</p><p> </p><p>Businesses
in Bolton which are forced to close can claim grants of up to £3,000 per month, based
on their rateable value, through the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed). They
can also claim a one-off grant of up to £9,000, in addition to the monthly grant.
Businesses in Bolton which are not able to receive these grants for closed businesses
may be able to benefit from the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG). We recently increased
the funding available under this scheme to £1.6 billion across England. It is up to
each local authority to determine eligibility for this scheme based on their assessment
of local economic need; however, we encourage local authorities to support businesses
which have been impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, but which are ineligible for the
other grant schemes.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to funding for these grant schemes,
local authorities in Bolton which were subject to enhanced restrictions on socialising
(such as a ban on indoor household mixing) between 1 August and 5 November, and between
2 December and 5 January, will have received funding from the Local Restrictions Support
Grant (Open) scheme to enable them to make backdated grants to hospitality, leisure,
and accommodation businesses worth 70% of the monthly grants for closed businesses.</p><p>
</p><p>Businesses are also able to access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS),
which was introduced to help employers whose operations have been affected by COVID-19
retain their employees and protect the UK economy. All businesses across the UK can
access the scheme, which will run until the end of April 2021, with employees receiving
80% of their usual salary for hours not worked, up to £2,500 per month. As at 31 December,
provisional statistics show that there were about 15,300 employments furloughed in
Bolton North East, Bolton South East, and Bolton West, representing a roughly 12%
takeup rate among eligible employments.</p><p> </p><p>Businesses across the UK have
also received billions in loans, tax deferrals, Business Rates relief, and general
and sector-specific grants. Individuals and families have benefited from increased
welfare payments, enhanced Statutory Sick Pay, a stay on repossession proceedings
and mortgage holidays.</p>
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