Contributions
2,308 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Self-employed Persons: Financial SupportMy hon. Friend will recall that the Budget included targeted action specifically on council tax, with half a billion pound package to allow targeted support on council tax. I…24 Mar 2020HANSARD Self-employed Persons: Financial SupportI know that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is looking at a range of options in terms of how we adapt to the change of…24 Mar 2020HANSARD Self-employed Persons: Financial SupportWe are looking into that, but it is available as of now. It goes up to £5 million and my understanding is that it does not require personal guarantees. If it is any different, I…24 Mar 2020HANSARD Self-employed Persons: Financial SupportAs the hon. Gentleman’s earlier question in Treasury questions suggested, that is not the sole consideration. It is a question of what the operational delivery issues may be: for…24 Mar 2020HANSARD Self-employed Persons: Financial SupportI refer to the answer I gave a moment ago. We are actively looking at this and we hope to bring forward proposals in the coming days.24 Mar 2020HANSARD Self-employed Persons: Financial SupportMy hon. Friend is right that there is a range of costs. As I say, we are looking as part of our support at what action can be taken. He can see, as an illustration of that, the…24 Mar 2020HANSARD Self-employed Persons: Financial SupportI agree with the first part of that. The right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right about the vast majority of these people. I have made that point repeatedly. I referred earlier to…24 Mar 2020HANSARD Self-employed Persons: Financial SupportThe hon. Gentleman speaks to a real concern and a real issue, but I draw attention to the fact that one of the challenges is to communicate what support has already been announced…24 Mar 2020HANSARD Self-employed Persons: Financial SupportAs I see from the farmers in my own constituency, there is considerable demand for UK- produced food. I am very happy to continue to work with the hon. Gentleman, and we have…24 Mar 2020HANSARD Self-employed Persons: Financial SupportThe coronavirus business interruption loan scheme, on which Members across the House have raised questions, is now available, offering up to £5 million for SMEs through the…24 Mar 2020HANSARD Self-employed Persons: Financial SupportAs I have said, the Chancellor held meetings with small business leaders this morning. He is having further meetings on this issue today. He is very aware of the concerns raised…24 Mar 2020HANSARD Self-employed Persons: Financial SupportMy hon. Friend makes an important point, and one that the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is aware of. I am sure that he will be happy to have further…24 Mar 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am happy to give that assurance. I know my hon. Friend is a champion—rightly so—of our armed forces and speaks with great experience and authority on that. He will be aware of a…24 Mar 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Gentleman raises an important point about the pressure on the Department for Work and Pensions at this time. That is a key reason why the design of the schemes that we…24 Mar 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe right hon. Gentleman will know that school budgets have been allocated, so the schools already have that money to spend; that will not change. The announcement that the…24 Mar 2020HANSARDNHS FundingThe hon. Lady will know from the statements made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care that significant efforts have been made on this, working…24 Mar 2020HANSARD Self-employed Persons: Financial SupportMy hon. Friend speaks with considerable business and financial experience, and he will know the cash-flow issues and the challenges that many of the businesses in his constituency…24 Mar 2020HANSARD Self-employed Persons: Financial SupportFor some within this population—not all—there will be some solution already through the £5 million loan that is available as of yesterday. That will not cover the entirety of this…24 Mar 2020HANSARD Self-employed Persons: Financial SupportI am very happy to make it a six-word slogan, if the hon. Gentleman prefers: “Help is coming”, and we will do, “Whatever it takes”. As to whether the House will sit, that is not…24 Mar 2020HANSARD Self-employed Persons: Financial SupportThe right hon. Gentleman is right to emphasise the importance of timing and speed in this regard. He spoke about how that can be targeted and the fact that there are many very…24 Mar 2020