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1194702

registered interest
date	11/05/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Financial Services: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the guidance recently published by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on customers in temporary financial difficulty during the covid-19 outbreak, what discussions (a) he and (b) officials in his Department have had with representatives of the FCA on the absence of specific guidance for vulnerable consumers in that publication.
tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
tabling member printed	Neil Gray
uin	45241
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to doing whatever it takes to get our nation through this crisis and that includes supporting the most vulnerable in our society. To this end, the Government continues to work closely with financial services regulators as part of the economic response.</p><p> </p><p>The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has introduced measures supporting consumers in financial difficulty at this time, and require firms to prioritise vulnerable consumers, including those with poor health.</p><p> </p><p>In response, firms across the financial services sector have announced a range of measures to support vulnerable customers and the Government is working with the FCA to ensure there is continued support. For example, many firms have methods for trusted third-parties to access cash for vulnerable/self-isolating people, as well as setting up dedicated phone lines to support them.</p><p> </p><p>Since the COVID-19 crisis has developed, the Government has also worked closely with the FCA on the introduction of payment deferral periods to provide support to consumers who are facing temporary cash flow problems as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 45242 45243 question first answered 18/05/2020 11:56:16 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	4365 label Biography information for Neil Gray

1194703

registered interest
date	11/05/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Financial Services: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing measures in the financial services sector to protect (a) people living with cancer and (b) other vulnerable consumers.
tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
tabling member printed	Neil Gray
uin	45242
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to doing whatever it takes to get our nation through this crisis and that includes supporting the most vulnerable in our society. To this end, the Government continues to work closely with financial services regulators as part of the economic response.</p><p> </p><p>The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has introduced measures supporting consumers in financial difficulty at this time, and require firms to prioritise vulnerable consumers, including those with poor health.</p><p> </p><p>In response, firms across the financial services sector have announced a range of measures to support vulnerable customers and the Government is working with the FCA to ensure there is continued support. For example, many firms have methods for trusted third-parties to access cash for vulnerable/self-isolating people, as well as setting up dedicated phone lines to support them.</p><p> </p><p>Since the COVID-19 crisis has developed, the Government has also worked closely with the FCA on the introduction of payment deferral periods to provide support to consumers who are facing temporary cash flow problems as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 45241 45243 question first answered 18/05/2020 11:56:16 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	4365 label Biography information for Neil Gray

1194706

registered interest
date	11/05/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Financial Services: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the support and protection given to people living with cancer by the financial services sector.
tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
tabling member printed	Neil Gray
uin	45243
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to doing whatever it takes to get our nation through this crisis and that includes supporting the most vulnerable in our society. To this end, the Government continues to work closely with financial services regulators as part of the economic response.</p><p> </p><p>The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has introduced measures supporting consumers in financial difficulty at this time, and require firms to prioritise vulnerable consumers, including those with poor health.</p><p> </p><p>In response, firms across the financial services sector have announced a range of measures to support vulnerable customers and the Government is working with the FCA to ensure there is continued support. For example, many firms have methods for trusted third-parties to access cash for vulnerable/self-isolating people, as well as setting up dedicated phone lines to support them.</p><p> </p><p>Since the COVID-19 crisis has developed, the Government has also worked closely with the FCA on the introduction of payment deferral periods to provide support to consumers who are facing temporary cash flow problems as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 45241 45242 question first answered 18/05/2020 11:56:16 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	4365 label Biography information for Neil Gray

1194707

registered interest
date	11/05/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Charities: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what additional steps his Department is planning to take to support charities affected financially by the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
tabling member printed	Neil Gray
uin	45244
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2020 answer text <p>Many charities and social enterprises will benefit from the existing measures announced to support employers and businesses. Under these measures, like other businesses, charities can defer their VAT bills and pay no business rates for their shops next year. All charities are eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and the right answer for many charities will be to furlough their employees with the Government paying 80% of wages. Charities are eligible for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS), and the Bounce Back Loans Scheme (BBL). Registered charities are now exempt from the requirement that 50% of the applicant’s income must be derived from its Trading Activity.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has also set out a £750 million package of support for charities providing key services and supporting vulnerable people during the COVID-19 crisis. This will enable such organisations to continue providing essential services to those most in need. Funding for charities is now starting to be disbursed and the most up to date information is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-the-charity-sector#government-financial-support-for-charities" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-the-charity-sector#government-financial-support-for-charities</a>. Our aim is to get funding to those in greatest need as soon as possible.</p> answering member constituency Saffron Walden answering member printed Kemi Badenoch question first answered 18/05/2020 07:34:45 answering member 4597 label Biography information for Kemi Badenoch
tabling member	4365 label Biography information for Neil Gray

1192345

registered interest
date	05/05/2020
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	British Airways: Redundancy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish a response to EDM 418 on British Airways job losses.
tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
tabling member printed	Neil Gray
uin	42058
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2020 answer text <p>We recognise that the recent news regarding job losses at British Airways will be very distressing for the airline’s employees and their families.</p><p> </p><p>The aviation sector is essential to the UK economy, and we encourage firms to draw on the unprecedented package of measures we have made available to support them through this time. This includes schemes to raise capital, flexibilities with tax bills, and financial support for employees.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 07/05/2020 12:37:29 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 19537 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4365 label Biography information for Neil Gray

1193083

registered interest
date	05/05/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Appeals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a furlough appeals process for employees to challenge the decision of their employer.
tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
tabling member printed	Neil Gray
uin	43670
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2020 answer text <p>The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is designed to help employers whose operations have been severely affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) to retain their employees and protect the UK economy. The scheme is not an employment right and it is up to the employer to decide who to furlough.</p><p> </p><p>However, employers should discuss furlough with their staff and make any changes to their employment contract by agreement. When employers make decisions in relation to the process – including deciding who to offer furlough to – equality and discrimination laws will apply in the usual way.</p><p> </p><p>Where employees believe employment law has been broken, they should first contact the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas). Acas provides free and impartial information and advice to individuals on all aspects of workplace relations and employment law. If the issue cannot be resolved through Acas’ conciliation services, employees can make a claim to an employment tribunal.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 11/05/2020 16:25:26 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4365 label Biography information for Neil Gray

1192050

registered interest
date	01/05/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the Work and Pensions Select Committee’s survey into people’s experiences of the benefits system during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
tabling member printed	Neil Gray
uin	42053
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2020 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p>Ministers have met with the Committee and provided their evidence about the welfare system and the Department’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department will continue to work constructively with the Committee, including the responses it received in response to their claimant survey. The Department’s Ministers meet regularly with stakeholders to listen and hear about their experiences first hand.</p><p> </p><p>Since mid-March, the Department has received 2.9 million individual declarations for Universal Credit claims. Despite that surge, the system is standing up to the challenge and demonstrating that resilience is part of its design, whilst maintaining levels of payment timeliness.</p><p> </p><p>And, for those claimants who felt that they could not wait for their first routine payment, New Claim Advances are available online and by telephone, with the majority receiving money within 72 hours.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 10/06/2020 16:58:57 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies previous answer version 20793 answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4365 label Biography information for Neil Gray

1192239

registered interest
date	01/05/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Pay: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government plans to top up the wages of workers who have had their normal hours reduced during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
tabling member printed	Neil Gray
uin	42054
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2020 answer text <p>Workers who see a fall in earnings 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 are likely to 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><br> In response to the crisis, the Government has strengthened the welfare system, including by increasing the UC standard allowance and the Working Tax Credit basic element by £20 per week. In addition, to protect people’s jobs and incomes as far as possible during the crisis, the Government has announced a Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and a Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 06/05/2020 13:26:48 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4365 label Biography information for Neil Gray

1192240

registered interest
date	01/05/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Public Sector
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that public sector workers can be furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
tabling member printed	Neil Gray
uin	42055
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government expects that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will not be used by many public sector organisations, as most public sector employees are continuing to provide essential public services, or contribute to the response to the coronavirus outbreak. Where employers receive public funding for staff costs, and that funding is continuing, the Government expects employers to use that money to continue to pay staff in the usual fashion, and not to furlough them. This also applies to non-public sector employers who receive public funding for staff costs. Organisations who are receiving public funding specifically to provide services necessary to respond to coronavirus are not expected to furlough staff. In a small number of cases, for example where organisations are not primarily funded by the Government and whose staff cannot be redeployed to assist with the coronavirus response, the scheme may be appropriate for some staff.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 06/05/2020 13:39:11 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4365 label Biography information for Neil Gray

1192241

registered interest
date	01/05/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Welfare Tax Credits: Key Workers
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 effect of key workers who are in receipt of tax credits and who are taking on additional hours to support the fight against covid-19 on their tax credit payments going forward.
tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
tabling member printed	Neil Gray
uin	42056
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2020 answer text <p>The Tax Credit system has a degree of flexibility built in, in order to help claimants manage changes in income. The Tax Credit disregard means that the first £2,500 of an increase or decrease in household income, compared with the previous tax year is disregarded. Therefore, carers, NHS staff and other key workers who take on additional hours and experience an increase in income of up to £2,500 per year will see no change in their overall Tax Credit award.</p><p> </p><p>The Government also recognises that Tax Credits were introduced in the early 2000s and no longer fully reflect the world of work for many people. That is why we are introducing Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit replaces Tax Credits and other legacy benefits, to provide a single system of means tested support for working age people. Universal Credit is assessed and paid monthly and is based on claimants’ actual earnings in the month, rather than their annual income.</p> answering member constituency North East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Steve Barclay question first answered 06/05/2020 16:58:42 answering member 4095 label Biography information for Steve Barclay
tabling member	4365 label Biography information for Neil Gray