The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) is helping those that have been adversely affected by COVID-19, and has already helped 2.6 million people with over £7.6 billion of support. As set out in the Winter Economy Plan last week, the Government is extending the SEISS Grant; an initial taxable grant will be provided to cover three months\u2019 worth of profits for the period from November to the end of January 2021.<\/p>
<\/p>
Those ineligible for the SEISS Grant Extension may still be eligible for other elements of the very large package of financial support available. The Government has temporarily increased the Universal Credit standard allowance for 2020-21 by £20 per week and relaxed the Minimum Income Floor, so that where self-employed claimants' earnings have significantly reduced, their Universal Credit award will have increased to reflect their lower earnings. The self-employed also have access to other elements of the package, including tax deferrals, rental support, mortgage holidays, and other business support grants.<\/p>
<\/p>
Furthermore, the Winter Economy Plan announced further support to reduce pressure on business finances. The application deadline for four temporary coronavirus loan schemes \u2013 Bounce Back Loans, Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans, Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loans (CBILS) and the Future Fund \u2013 has also been extended to 30 November. The Government is introducing Pay as you Grow, a new option for Bounce Back Loan borrowers to repay their loan over a period of up to ten years, and enabling CBILS lenders to extend the term of these loans to ten years where they deem this necessary.<\/p>
<\/p>
Up to half a million businesses who deferred their VAT bills will also be given more breathing space through the New Payment Scheme, which gives them the option to spread their payments over the financial year 2021-2022. All 11 million UK self-assessment taxpayers will be able to benefit from the recently enhanced Time to Pay \u2018self-service\u2019 facility to create a 12-month, interest-free payment arrangement for up to £30,000 of self-assessment debt.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3991", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jesse Norman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hereford and South Herefordshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jesse Norman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-10-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-10-01T15:01:47.2Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2020-09-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Self-employed: Coronavirus"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what additional provisions he has under assessment to help self-employed individuals who do not qualify for the Self-employed Income Support Scheme.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4117", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrea Leadsom"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Northamptonshire"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andrea Leadsom"} ], "uin" : "96056"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1238319", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1238319/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We are aware that the events industry and its supply chain has been severely impacted by Covid-19 and ongoing restrictions.<\/p>
<\/strong><\/p> Wedding fayre organisers and other events businesses can continue to make use of the broader support package available to them. This includes the Bounce Back Loans scheme, the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.<\/p> <\/strong><\/p> From November, the Jobs Support Scheme will provide further support to returning workers, while the extended Self-Employed Income Support Scheme will aid the self-employed who are currently actively trading but are facing reduced demand.<\/p> <\/strong><\/p> We are also offering affected businesses generous terms for the repayment of deferred taxes and government-backed loans, as well as extending the application window of the government-backed loan schemes.<\/p> HM Treasury monitors domestic and international policies when considering changes to UK tax policies, and the Government keeps all tax policy under review.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3991", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jesse Norman"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hereford and South Herefordshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jesse Norman"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-10-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-10-01T14:57:48.98Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-09-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Events Industry: Coronavirus"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the treatment by Germany and Italy of (a) business events and (b) trade fairs as critical business opportunities for tax purposes.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4117", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrea Leadsom"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Northamptonshire"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andrea Leadsom"}
], "uin" : "96058"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1238321", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1238321/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " We have worked closely with stakeholders through both the Visitor Economy and Events & Entertainment Working Groups to develop Covid-19 Secure reopening guidance for providers of events. We continue to meet with sector representatives to discuss the specific issues impacting the full return of trade fairs and events.<\/p> <\/p> Business meetings and events of up to 30 people indoors are allowed in permitted venues if social distancing can be maintained and the venue can demonstrate it has followed the COVID-19 guidance. The rule of six does not apply to work, education, and training activities. Larger business events will be only permitted once it is safe to do so based on public health advice.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4414", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Scully"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Sutton and Cheam"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Paul Scully"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-10-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-10-01T14:59:11.713Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-09-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Events Industry and Trade Fairs: Coronavirus"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he is making an assessment of the potential merits of giving trade fairs and events organisers a three-month opening lead time to enable them to begin trading again.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4117", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrea Leadsom"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Northamptonshire"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andrea Leadsom"}
], "uin" : "96059"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1238322", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1238322/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government recognises the extreme disruption the necessary actions to combat Covid-19 are having on sectors like events and the trade fair industry.<\/p> <\/p> That is why the Government has announced unprecedented support for businesses and individuals during the pandemic, including those in events industries. This includes the deferral of VAT payments, a yearlong business rates holiday for eligible businesses, a range of government-backed and guaranteed loan schemes, the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Fund, and the Discretionary Grant. Additionally, many events are able to reopen at a small scale with social distancing measures.<\/p> <\/p> During this difficult time the Treasury is working intensively with employers, delivery partners, industry groups and other government departments to understand the long-term effects of social distancing across all key areas of the economy.<\/p> <\/p> We will continue to monitor the impact of government support on public services, businesses, individuals and sectors as we respond to this pandemic, and keep all policies under review<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4597", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kemi Badenoch"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Saffron Walden"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kemi Badenoch"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-10-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-10-01T07:21:28.83Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-09-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Events Industry: Coronavirus"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he is making an assessment of the potential merits of introducing funding schemes similar to the Eat Out to Help Out initiative in support of events organisers and trade fairs.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4117", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrea Leadsom"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Northamptonshire"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andrea Leadsom"}
], "uin" : "96060"}
], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 5, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]}
}
<\/strong>Meetings of up to 30 can still take place in permitted venues, as per the Covid-19 Secure guidance for the visitor economy. Since 11 July, a range of outdoor events have been able to take place. As with all aspects of the Government\u2019s response to Covid-19, our decisions have been and will continue to be based on scientific evidence and public health assessments.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4407", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nigel Huddleston"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mid Worcestershire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nigel Huddleston"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-10-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-10-02T11:44:04.41Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "10"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-09-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Events Industry: Coronavirus"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what financial support is available for (a) wedding fayre and (b) other event organisers to diversify their businesses as a result of the covid-19 restrictions.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4117", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrea Leadsom"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Northamptonshire"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andrea Leadsom"}
], "uin" : "96057"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1238320", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1238320/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "