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1199419

registered interest
date	02/06/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Agnew of Oulton on 20 May (HL4003), whether "until July" indicates that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be in place in its current form up to and including 30 June; and whether "after July" indicates that they will introduce more flexibility to the furlough scheme from 1 July.
tabling member printed	Lord Jones of Cheltenham
uin	HL5007
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will remain in its current form until 30 June, with flexible furloughing introduced from 1 July.</p><p> </p><p>From 1 July, employers can bring back to work employees that have previously been furloughed for any amount of time and any shift pattern, while still being able to claim a CJRS grant for their normal hours not worked. From 1 July, employers will also be able to agree any working arrangements with previously furloughed employees.</p><p> </p><p>The scheme will close to new entrants from 30 June, and from 1 July the scheme will only be available to employers that have previously used the scheme in respect of employees they have previously furloughed. From this point onwards, employers will only be able to furlough employees that they have furloughed for a full three-week period prior to 30 June. This means that the final date by which an employer can furlough an employee for the first time was 10 June, in order for the current three-week furlough period to be completed by 30 June.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 16/06/2020 10:48:02 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	248 label Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham

1199420

registered interest
date	02/06/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Conditions of Employment: Pay
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Agnew of Oulton on 26 May (HL4404), what support they will offer those people who have not been furloughed but have taken a voluntary temporary reduction in pay; whether they expect those for have taken voluntary temporary pay reductions to have entered into written agreements with their employers; and if not, what evidence they will require before these people can access any support.
tabling member printed	Lord Jones of Cheltenham
uin	HL5008
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>Workers whose earnings fall due to a reduction in their work hours may become eligible for support through the welfare system, including through Universal Credit (UC). Existing UC claimants will normally receive a higher award as a result of a fall in earnings. For employed claimants this will be updated automatically using information from the PAYE system.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has announced a significant package of temporary welfare measures to support those on low incomes through the COVID-19 outbreak, including increasing the UC standard allowance by £20 per week.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 16/06/2020 10:52:33 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	248 label Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham

1199422

registered interest
date	02/06/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Ministerial Powers
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that both HMRC and the Treasury agree the wording of ministerial directions before they are issued to (1) avoid confusion, and (2) obviate the need to subsequent corrections.
tabling member printed	Lord Jones of Cheltenham
uin	HL5010
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>The Treasury has recently issued a number of Directions under Section 76 of the Coronavirus Act 2020. These set out that HMRC are responsible for the payment and management of the amounts paid out under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). These are distinct from Ministerial Directions, which are formal instructions from Ministers to proceed with a spending proposal where the Permanent Secretary has written to their Secretary of State expressing their concerns.</p><p> </p><p>In relation to the recent CJRS and SEISS Treasury Directions, as with all other aspects of tax policy, Treasury and HMRC officials work closely to deliver the priorities of Ministers.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 16/06/2020 10:53:10 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	248 label Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham

1195827

registered interest
date	13/05/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, HMRC will tax the employee on their full salary and not the reduced one if an employer and employee have not entered into a written agreement reducing the employee’s salary before the first reduced payment is made.
tabling member printed	Lord Jones of Cheltenham
uin	HL4403
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2020 answer text <p>The CJRS is available to support employees paid via PAYE across the UK. When an employee has been furloughed, HMRC will tax the furlough salary in accordance with PAYE.</p><p> </p><p>However, in order to be eligible for the grant employers must confirm in writing to their employee that they have been furloughed. If this is done in a way that is consistent with employment law, that consent is valid for the purposes of claiming the CJRS. Collective agreement reached between an employer and a trade union is also acceptable for the purpose of such a claim. There needs to be a written record, but the employee does not have to provide a written response. A record of this communication must be kept for five years.</p><p> </p><p>If the employee has not received written notice confirming they are furloughed, the employee is not considered to be furloughed.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 26/05/2020 13:20:32 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	248 label Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham

1195828

registered interest
date	13/05/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme does not require an employee to sign up to a salary reduction in order for the employer to make a claim for the grant, whether HMRC expect employers and employees to have entered into written agreements either for those who have been furloughed on 80 per cent of their pay or those who are still working but have voluntarily taken a temporary reduction in pay; and, if not, what evidence HMRC will require.
tabling member printed	Lord Jones of Cheltenham
uin	HL4404
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2020 answer text <p>In order to be eligible for the grant, employers must confirm in writing to their employee that they have been furloughed. If this is done in a way that is consistent with employment law, that consent is valid for the purposes of claiming the CJRS. Collective agreement reached between an employer and a trade union is also acceptable for the purpose of such a claim. There needs to be a written record, but the employee does not have to provide a written response.</p><p> </p><p>Those who have voluntarily taken a reduction in pay and are still working do not meet the eligibility requirements of the CJRS and therefore are not furloughed according to the terms of the scheme.</p><p> </p><p>As the scheme is administered through existing PAYE, the employee does not need to take further action.</p><p> </p><p>Detailed step by step guidance for employers is available on GOV.UK.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 26/05/2020 13:22:39 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	248 label Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham

1193463

registered interest
date	05/05/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government for how long they plan to keep the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme grant at a rate that covers 80 per cent of wage costs and what plans they have, if any, to lower that rate.
tabling member printed	Lord Jones of Cheltenham
uin	HL4003
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government has extended the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme until October 2020. Extending the scheme in its current form until July will provide workers, businesses and the economy with clarity on this vital support. After July, the Government will introduce more flexibility to the furlough scheme in a measured way that protects people’s incomes and helps support furloughed employees as they return to work. From August through to the end of October, employers currently using the scheme will have more flexibility to bring their furloughed employees back to work part-time while still receiving support from the scheme. Employers using the scheme will start contributing some of the costs of their workers’ salaries, substituting in part the contribution that the Government is currently making. The Government will outline more details of how this will work by the end of May.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 20/05/2020 15:27:27 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	248 label Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham

1193464

registered interest
date	05/05/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Public Finance: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of weeks they can continue to fund the financial support schemes for individuals and businesses that have been put in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
tabling member printed	Lord Jones of Cheltenham
uin	HL4004
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2020 answer text <p>The government has announced unprecedented support for public services, business and workers to protect against the current economic emergency. Our economic response is one of the most generous and comprehensive globally.</p><p> </p><p>The Office for Budget Responsibility note that the measures taken should help limit the long-term damage to the economy and public finances – and the costs of inaction would have been higher.</p><p> </p><p>Precise costs will depend on a range of factors including the impact of the crisis on the wider economy and the level of take-up for each scheme. However, it is clear that the impact on the economy and the government's necessary response will lead to an increase in borrowing in the short-term.</p><p> </p><p>The government intends to finance the additional borrowing through its normal debt management operations. HM Treasury, the Debt Management Office and the Bank of England are cooperating closely to support the orderly functioning of the gilt and sterling money markets</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 20/05/2020 15:23:36 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	248 label Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham

1193465

registered interest
date	05/05/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Public Sector Debt:: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to begin addressing the increase in national debt that has occurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and what assessment they have made of the measures that will be needed.
tabling member printed	Lord Jones of Cheltenham
uin	HL4005
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2020 answer text The work of the last ten years in bringing borrowing and debt back under control has ensured that the public finances are well placed to deal with the challenges posed by COVID-19. However, it is clear that the impact of COVID-19 on the economy and the government's necessary response to it will lead to an increase in borrowing and debt this year.<p>The government has provided a comprehensive policy package to do whatever it takes to support businesses, households and our vital public services through this difficult period. Not taking these steps would result in the temporary effects of COVID-19 permanently damaging our economy, which would weaken the fiscal position over the longer-term; as the independent Office for Budget Responsibility have said, “the costs of inaction would certainly have been higher.”</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 20/05/2020 13:03:14 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	248 label Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham

1189376

registered interest
date	22/04/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any discrepancies between the Coronavirus Act 2020 Functions of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme) Direction, published on 15 April, and the guidance available on the HMRC website; and where there are discrepancies, which rules will be followed when processing a claim through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
tabling member printed	Lord Jones of Cheltenham
uin	HL3019
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2020 answer text <p>The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme was introduced in extraordinary circumstances and at unprecedented pace in order to provide vital support to employers and their employees. The scheme was announced by the Chancellor on 20 March and launched on 20 April. In its first day of operation, applications were received from over 140,000 employers, in respect of over 1,000,000 jobs.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC will act at all times in accordance with the HM Treasury Direction. HMRC’s interpretation of the Direction is set out in their published guidance, and it is HMRC’s view that the published guidance is consistent with the Direction. It is HMRC’s expectation that employers should consider the guidance in the first instance when seeking to understand the operation of the scheme and HMRC’s interpretation of the Direction.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 06/05/2020 10:58:43 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	248 label Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham

1189377

registered interest
date	22/04/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether employees who were made redundant, or stopped working for their employers, after 19 March can be claimed for under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme if they are now re-employed.
tabling member printed	Lord Jones of Cheltenham
uin	HL3020
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2020 answer text <p>Employees who were made redundant or stopped working for their employers after 19 March can be claimed for under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme if their employer agrees to re-employ them and place them on furlough. The employer will still be able to claim a grant to cover 80% of the employee’s regular wages from the date they were placed on furlough, up to a cap of £2,500 a month. This applies if the employees were made redundant or stopped working for their employer after 19 March 2020, as long as the employees were employed by them on 19 March 2020 and on their payroll on or before 19 March 2020. This means an RTI submission to HMRC notifying payment in respect of the employee must have been made on or before 19 March 2020.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 06/05/2020 12:22:35 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	248 label Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham