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1191624

registered interest
date	29/04/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Bureaux de Change: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason the Expanded Retail Discount Scheme excludes bureaux de change premises.
tabling member constituency	Gateshead
tabling member printed	Ian Mearns
uin	41432
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government has provided enhanced support to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors through business rates relief given the direct and acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those sectors.</p><p> </p><p>While financial services providers are excluded from business rates relief, a range of further measures to support all businesses, including those not eligible for the business rates holiday, has also been made available.</p><p> </p><p>For example, the Government has launched the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help firms continue to keep people in employment, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme offering loans of up to £5 million for SMEs through the British Business Bank, and the deferral of VAT payments for this quarter.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 04/05/2020 14:09:18 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4000 label Biography information for Ian Mearns

1191753

registered interest
date	29/04/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Self-employment Income Support Scheme: Greater London
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to introduce a London weighting to increase the £50,000 trading profit cap on eligibility for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.
tabling member constituency	Wimbledon
tabling member printed	Stephen Hammond
uin	41409
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 40735 41140 question first answered 04/05/2020 14:16:23 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond

1191755

registered interest
date	29/04/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Self-employed: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to provide support for people who are self-employed and who are paid primarily through dividends.
tabling member constituency	Wimbledon
tabling member printed	Stephen Hammond
uin	41410
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>Those who pay themselves a salary through their own company may be eligible to claim for 80% of usual monthly wages, up to £2,500 a month, through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). The CJRS is available to employers, including personal service companies, and individuals paying themselves a salary through a PAYE scheme are eligible.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s priority has been to support as many people as it possibly can, and as quickly as possible. 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 and any such proposal would need to be considered against the other schemes which the Government is committed to delivering as quickly as possible.</p><p> </p><p>Those who are not eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme may be able to access other support Government is providing, including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the Bounce Back Loans Scheme for small businesses, 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><p> </p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman grouped question UIN 39497 39791 question first answered 04/05/2020 13:54:32 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond

1191818

registered interest
date	29/04/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Voluntary Work
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will add an exemption to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme guidance allowing furloughed workers employed by faith-based organisations to participate in activities usually undertaken by volunteers in their faith community.
tabling member constituency	Ceredigion
tabling member printed	Ben Lake
uin	41576
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The purpose of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is to support people who would otherwise have been made redundant. To prevent fraudulent claims, the Government made clear that individuals cannot work or volunteer for their organisation. This aims to protect individuals too; if workers were allowed to volunteer for their employer, the employer could ask them to effectively work full time while only paying them 80% of their wages. DCMS is working with other Government departments and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector to identify areas where volunteers can contribute to the COVID-19 response.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 04/05/2020 13:38:10 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4630 label Biography information for Ben Lake

1191819

registered interest
date	29/04/2020
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 steps he is taking to support veterinary practices affected by the covid-19 lockdown through business rate relief.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	41429
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>Business rates are devolved in Scotland.</p><p> </p><p>In England, the Government has provided enhanced support to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors through business rates relief given the direct and acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those sectors.</p><p> </p><p>A range of further measures to support all businesses, including those not eligible for the business rates holiday, such as veterinary practices, has also been made available. For example, the Government has launched the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help firms continue to keep people in employment, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme offering loans of up to £5 million for SMEs through the British Business Bank backed by an 80% Government guarantee, and the deferral of VAT payments for this quarter.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will consider any further financial assistance necessary to help businesses get through this period.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman grouped question UIN 41010 question first answered 04/05/2020 15:26:21 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1191820

registered interest
date	29/04/2020
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, if he make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to support small businesses by relaxing the three-week furlough period requirement for small businesses with small workforces to provide flexibility.
tabling member constituency	Ceredigion
tabling member printed	Ben Lake
uin	41577
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>Employees must remain on furlough for a minimum of three weeks. This was a difficult decision but it is important that the scheme is consistent with public health guidance seeking to minimise the number of people outside their homes on a regular basis. It also protects employees by providing some certainty over their working arrangement. However, 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.</p><p> </p><p>This scheme supplements the other significant support announced for UK businesses, including 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 question first answered 04/05/2020 14:25:59 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4630 label Biography information for Ben Lake

1190992

registered interest
date	28/04/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Empty Property: Business Rates
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 extending the eligibility period for Business rate relief to landlords of empty buildings during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle
tabling member printed	Emma Hardy
uin	41157
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government maintains an Empty Property Relief (EPR) to support property owners between the reoccupation of vacated premises. Under EPR, owners of properties do not normally have to pay business rates on newly vacated buildings for three months. Certain properties are also eligible for extended empty property relief, such as industrial premises which are exempt for up to six months.</p><p> </p><p>Properties which have closed temporarily due to the Government’s advice on COVID-19 should be treated as occupied for the purposes of the business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure properties.</p><p> </p><p>A range of further measures to support all businesses, including those not eligible for the business rates holiday, has also been made available.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 04/05/2020 15:20:38 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4645 label Biography information for Emma Hardy

1191008

registered interest
date	28/04/2020
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, if he will amend the Treasury Direction in relation to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to enable employers to furlough employees (a) on sick leave and (b) that were pregnant women and sent home on sick leave following the Prime Minister’s public advice statement of 16 March 2020.
tabling member constituency	Arfon
tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
uin	40994
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The Direction does not prevent someone from being furloughed if they are pregnant, on Statutory Sick Pay or are eligible for Statutory Sick Pay, including if they are following shielding measures in line with public health guidance. This is consistent with the published guidance and the Prime Minister’s public advice statement.</p><p>The Government is grateful for the feedback it has received on both the HM Treasury Direction and HMRC’s guidance. HMRC and HM Treasury will continue to consider these comments and will provide appropriate clarification if necessary.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 04/05/2020 13:42:02 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1191009

registered interest
date	28/04/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Employment: Pregnancy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to issue guidance to (a) businesses and (b) employers on the (i) support they are required to provide to pregnant employees and (ii) the furloughing of pregnant employees who are unable to work safely or work from home during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Arfon
tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
uin	40995
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>It is against the law to discriminate against anyone because of being pregnant. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 continue to apply, and guidance can be found here: https://www.hse.gov.uk/mothers/law.htm.</p><p> </p><p>An employee can be furloughed if they are pregnant, including if they are following shielding measures in line with public health guidance. When furloughing pregnant employees, the normal rules for maternity and other forms of parental leave and pay apply. Employers can claim through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) for enhanced (earnings related) contractual pay for employees who qualify for maternity pay.</p><p> </p><p>All employers are eligible to claim under the scheme and the Government recognises different businesses will face different impacts from coronavirus. Guidance on the scheme is available for employers at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-step-by-step-guide-for-employers" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-step-by-step-guide-for-employers</a>, and for employees at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme</a>.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 04/05/2020 13:37:09 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1191011

registered interest
date	28/04/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Food Supply: Business Rates
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to extend business rates relief to suppliers to the food service sector during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	41046
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government has provided enhanced support to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors through business rates relief given the direct and acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those sectors.</p><p> </p><p>A range of further measures to support all businesses, including those not eligible for the business rates holiday, such as the food service sector, has also been made available. For example, the Government has launched the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help firms continue to keep people in employment, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme offering loans of up to £5 million for SMEs through the British Business Bank, and has deferred VAT payments for this quarter.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will consider any further financial assistance necessary to help businesses get through this period.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 04/05/2020 14:18:37 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis