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1190607

	registered interest
	date	27/04/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Small Businesses: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are excluded from the Small Business Grants Fund and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund because those SMEs have a rateable value of more than £51,000; and whether it is the Government’s policy that not all SMEs are eligible to access financial support made available in response to the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	40554
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>According to the VOA<ins class="ministerial"> official statistics</ins>, there are<ins class="ministerial"> around</ins> <del class="ministerial">299,000</del> <ins class="ministerial">205,000 </ins>business properties in England with a rateable value over £51,000<ins class="ministerial"> as at 31 March 2019. </ins>. Of these,<ins class="ministerial"> approximately 83,000 are identified as </ins> <del class="ministerial">116,000</del> <del class="ministerial">are</del> retail, hospitality and leisure properties<ins class="ministerial"> using VOA's administrative data source</ins>.</p><p> </p><p>The Small Business Grants Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund have been designed to support the smallest businesses, and smaller businesses in the some of the sectors which have been hit hardest by measures taken to prevent the spread of Covid-19.</p><p> </p><p>Around 1 million small and medium businesses will receive cash grants as a result of these schemes, and over £12 billion will be paid out to these businesses.</p><p> </p><p>The two schemes have been tied to the business rates system and rating assessments, which together provide a framework for Local Authorities to make payments as quickly as possible. Businesses in the business rates system are also likely to face particularly high fixed costs, such as fixed rents.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to the main grants schemes, Government has made available up to an additional £617m for Local Authorities in England to enable them to pay grants to small businesses which also face high fixed building-related costs but which are excluded from the current system due to the way they fit into the business rates system.</p><p> </p><p>Businesses which are not eligible for the grants schemes should be able to benefit from other measures in the Government’s unprecedented package of support for business, including:</p><p> </p><ul><li>An option to defer VAT payments by up to twelve months;</li><li>The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, now extended to cover all businesses including those which would be able to access commercial credit;</li><li>The Bounce Back Loan scheme, which will ensure that small and micro businesses can quickly access loans of up to £50,000 which are 100% guaranteed by the Government;</li><li>The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, to support businesses with their wage bills; and</li><li>The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, to provide support to the self-employed.</li></ul><p> </p> answering member constituency Saffron Walden answering member printed Kemi Badenoch question first answered 04/05/2020 12:51:42 question first ministerially corrected 19/05/2020 17:20:45 answering member 4597 label Biography information for Kemi Badenoch previous answer version 18197 answering member constituency Saffron Walden answering member printed Kemi Badenoch answering member 4597 label Biography information for Kemi Badenoch
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1190544

	registered interest
	date	27/04/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Directors: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to support people who earn the majority of their income through dividends as directors of limited companies, and who are ineligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme or the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	40524
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>Income from dividends is a return on investment in the company, rather than wages, and is not eligible for support. Under current reporting mechanisms it is not possible for HM Revenue and Customs to distinguish between dividends derived from an individual’s own company and dividends from other sources, and between dividends in lieu of employment income and as returns from other corporate activity. Expanding the scope would require HMRC to collect and verify new information. This would take longer to deliver and put at risk the other schemes which the Government is committed to delivering as quickly as possible.</p><p> </p><p>Individuals who are not eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme or the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme may be able to access other support Government is providing, including the Bounce Back Loans Scheme for small businesses, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and the deferral of tax payments. More information about the full range of business support measures is available at: <a href="http://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/" target="_blank">www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/</a></p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 05/05/2020 11:33:25 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1190817

	registered interest
	date	27/04/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Veterinary Services: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the need to introduce a package of financial support for veterinary practices in response to the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Ceredigion
	tabling member printed	Ben Lake
	uin	40733
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>Veterinary practices are eligible for a number of the business support schemes the Government has launched in response to the Covid-19 outbreak. These include VAT deferrals, Small Business Grant Funding, Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans, and the Job Retention Scheme.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs continues to engage with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, British Veterinary Association and other key stakeholders to ensure that we understand any potential economic impacts to veterinary practices following the Covid-19 outbreak.</p> answering member constituency North East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Steve Barclay question first answered 05/05/2020 12:56:38 answering member 4095 label Biography information for Steve Barclay
	tabling member	4630 label Biography information for Ben Lake

1190818

	registered interest
	date	27/04/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Dental Services: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the need to introduce a package of financial support for dental practices in response to the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Ceredigion
	tabling member printed	Ben Lake
	uin	40734
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government has announced unprecedented support for business and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency. This support includes a commitment to pay 80% of the regular monthly wages, up to £2,500, of furloughed workers for four months, via the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), and help for the self-employed with the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), which will provide grants to those who are self-employed, or members of partnerships, worth 80% of their trading profits/partnership trading profits, also up to a maximum of £2,500 per month. All employed staff in dental practices, including support staff, could also be eligible for these schemes.</p><p> </p><p>Dental and other healthcare practices may also benefit from measures, including:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Small business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief;</li><li>The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)</li><li>The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBL)</li><li>VAT deferral for up to 12 months</li><li>Through the Time To Pay scheme, businesses and self-employed individuals in financial distress, and with outstanding tax liabilities, can receive support with their tax affairs</li><li>Protection for commercial leaseholders against automatic forfeiture for non-payment until June 30, 2020</li></ul><p> </p><p>The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply - <a href="https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support" target="_blank">https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support</a>.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 04/05/2020 12:50:02 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4630 label Biography information for Ben Lake

1190816

	registered interest
	date	27/04/2020
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of adapting the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to provide further support for businesses who are unable to furlough staff due to the critical nature of their work yet are facing severe financial difficulties as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Ceredigion
	tabling member printed	Ben Lake
	uin	40732
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text The purpose of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is to support people who would otherwise have been made redundant. Furloughed employees cannot work for their employer and must remain on furlough for a minimum of three weeks. This is consistent with public health guidance seeking to minimise the number of people outside their homes on a regular basis.<p> </p><p>This scheme supplements the other significant support announced for UK businesses, including the Bounce Back Loans Scheme for small businesses, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and the deferral of tax payments. More information about the full range of business support measures is available at <a href="http://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/" target="_blank">www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/</a></p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 04/05/2020 14:12:00 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	4630 label Biography information for Ben Lake

1190819

	registered interest
	date	27/04/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Self-employment Income Support Scheme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the evidential basis for his decision to set £50,000 as the threshold for the Self-employed Income Support Scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Ceredigion
	tabling member printed	Ben Lake
	uin	40735
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The new Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will help those adversely affected by COVID-19. Some 95% of people who are mainly self-employed could benefit from this scheme, based on 2017-18 data.</p><p> </p><p>The design of the SEISS, including the £50,000 threshold, means it is targeted at those who need it the most, and who are most reliant on their self-employment income. Those who had more than £50,000 from self-employment profits in 2017-18 had an average total income of more than £200,000.</p><p> </p><p>Those with average trading profits above £50,000 could still benefit from other support. Individuals may have access to a range of grants and loans depending on their circumstances, including the Bounce Back Loans Scheme for small businesses, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and the deferral of tax payments.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman grouped question UIN 39793 41140 41409 question first answered 04/05/2020 14:16:23 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	4630 label Biography information for Ben Lake

1190820

	registered interest
	date	27/04/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Self-employment Income Support Scheme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether a regional impact assessment was conducted to inform the Self-employed Income Support scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Ceredigion
	tabling member printed	Ben Lake
	uin	40736
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) applies to eligible self-employed individuals across the UK. The scale of the support in different regions and nations of the UK will be dependent on the number of eligible individuals applying for the SEISS because they have been adversely affected by COVID-19.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 04/05/2020 13:58:40 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	4630 label Biography information for Ben Lake

1190604

	registered interest
	date	27/04/2020
	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	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has carried out an impact assessment on (a) the cost to HM Treasury and (b) the benefits for businesses of allowing people eligible for the coronavirus job retention scheme to furlough staff for one week at a time.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	40551
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text Employees must remain on furlough for a minimum of three weeks under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. The Government has made the difficult decision that there can be no exceptions to this so that the scheme is consistent with public health guidance, which seeks to minimise the number of people regularly outside their homes. It also protects employees by providing some certainty over their working arrangements. However, it is important to note that employees can be placed on furlough more than once while the scheme is open, and employers may rotate staff on furlough (for the minimum of three weeks each) if they choose. answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 05/05/2020 11:35:09 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1190605

	registered interest
	date	27/04/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Coronavirus job retention scheme: Company Voluntary Arrangements
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has held discussions with his EU counterparts on the Government’s decision to prevent companies in CVA from benefitting from the coronavirus job retention scheme; and for what reasons that decision was made in relation state aid rules.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	40552
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>Any entity with a UK payroll can apply for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). To be eligible they must have:</p><ul><li>created and started a PAYE payroll scheme on or before 19 March 2020</li><li>enrolled for PAYE online</li><li>a UK bank account</li></ul><p> </p><p>If companies in Company Voluntary Arrangements meet these eligibility criteria they can access the scheme. Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme grants are not classed as state aid.</p><p> </p><p>Full guidance on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 05/05/2020 11:31:39 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1190754

	registered interest
	date	27/04/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Revenue and Customs: Remote Working
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason HMRC is not rolling out telephony homeworking first to employees already working from home; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	40674
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>HMRC’s frontline teams of key workers are doing a very important job to support the UK; protecting people’s livelihoods, keeping cash in businesses, helping people to stay employed and supporting families.</p><p> </p><p>The safety of their staff is HMRC’s top priority. Staff who do not need to be in the office are working from home, and HMRC are following public health advice to keep their offices safe where services cannot be delivered from home.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC took steps quickly to enable as many colleagues as possible to work from home at this time, expanding their remote working network, moving work around, and training hundreds of their customer advisers on webchat, which can be worked on from home. This means that about 75% of HMRC’s people are working at home.</p><p> </p><p>Working telephony at home has been largely untested and presents potential risks that need to be managed carefully. In March, HMRC started a small-scale trial to look at this, and to understand in detail aspects like the experience and wellbeing of colleagues doing it, the customer experience, how secure and suitable home environments are for this type of work, and what extra equipment and network capacity would be needed.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC’s original plan was to evaluate their initial small-scale trial of home telephony before looking at next steps. However, as HMRC prepared for a large surge in customer calls for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), HMRC decided that there was an opportunity to push the home telephony trial further and faster than planned. HMRC have now expanded the home telephony testing to about 7,000 colleagues, supporting CJRS and some of their business as usual lines.</p><p> </p><p>The findings from this trial will help HMRC to understand how far they can increase the number of roles that can be done from home at any one time.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC remain focused on and committed to keeping their people safe, whether in an office or at home, while also protecting their vital services to taxpayers.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 04/05/2020 15:38:59 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens