Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Rachael Maskell (Labour) on Tuesday, 29 June 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 1 July 2021. It was answered by Jesse Norman (Conservative) on Wednesday, 7 July 2021 on behalf of the Treasury.

Self-employed: Government Assistance

Question

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support is available to self-employed people who have been ineligible for Government covid-19 support schemes to date to restart their business.

Answer

Throughout the pandemic, the Government has sought to protect people’s jobs and livelihoods while also supporting businesses and public services across the UK.

The Government put in place a very substantial package of support through the furlough and self-employed income support schemes (SEISS), support for businesses through grants and loans, business rates and VAT relief.

The Government acknowledges that it has not been possible to support everyone as they might want, and that the rules, criteria and conditions needed to ensure the effective operation of the SEISS have meant that some people did not qualify. The design of the SEISS, including the eligibility requirement that an individual’s trading income must be at least equal to their non-trading income, means it is targeted at those who are most reliant on their self-employment income.

The SEISS is also just one element of a substantial package of support for the self-employed. The self-employed may also have access to other support available, including Restart Grants, the Recovery Loan scheme, business rates relief, and other business support schemes.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
24259
Session
2021-22
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Government assistance Self-employed Coronavirus
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk