From 16 August, double vaccinated individuals and under 18s will no longer need to self-isolate if they are identified as a close contact of someone with Covid-19. Introducing this exemption in August, when more people will be fully vaccinated, will reduce the risk of severe illness.

Throughout the pandemic, the Government has sought to protect people’s jobs and livelihoods while also supporting businesses and public services across the UK. To do this, the Government has put in place an economic package of support totalling £352 billion through the furlough and self-employed income support schemes, support for businesses through grants and loans, and business rates and VAT relief.

At the Budget, the Chancellor announced a generous extension of economic support for businesses and individuals, with many schemes continuing well beyond Step 4 of the Roadmap to accommodate even the most cautious view about the time it might have taken to exit restrictions. This continued support is helping businesses bounce back as restrictions are lifted.

The Treasury monitors the health of local economies as part of its normal activities, and will respond to challenges as necessary. The Government’s economic and fiscal policy response will continue to evolve according to changing economic and health circumstances. So, we will ensure to take the right action at the right time to support individuals and businesses in every region and nation of the United Kingdom.

The government is committed to supporting self-employed individuals through any period in which they have to self-isolate. Self-employed individuals may be eligible for “new style” Contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if they are incapable of work due to Covid-19, including those who are required to self-isolate according to Government guidance. We have made it easier for people to claim new style ESA by removing the seven-day waiting period which means people can get support from day one. If they are on a low-income, they may also be entitled to a £500 self-isolation payment.

Individuals who are self-isolating can also access the wider support which the government has made available to self-employed people. In addition to bounce back loans, self-employed individuals may be eligible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) which remains open for applications and has recently been extended. The SEISS Grant Extension will last for 6 months, from November 2020 to April 2021.

This support for the self-employed is in addition to a comprehensive welfare offer: according to OBR estimates, the government has injected a further £9.3bn into the welfare system to support individuals who are unable to work or on a low income, including the self-employed. For those on low incomes, the government has relaxed the UC minimum income floor for all self-employed claimants.

The Government launched Bounce Back Loans on 4^th May 2020 to ensure that the smallest businesses can access loans of up to £50,000 in a matter of days. However, decisions regarding which products, like business bank accounts, to offer remain at the discretion of lenders, and the Government does not intervene in these decisions.

The Government is in continual dialogue with the insurance sector to understand and influence its contribution to handling this unprecedented situation.

Travel insurance typically applies only for losses that cannot be recovered from elsewhere, that is, after any refunds from airlines, travel, or accommodation providers. Although insurance against travel disruption due to pandemics is typically included in travel insurance policies, customers should first contact travel providers or accommodation providers for reimbursement. In the next instance, credit card providers would provide a refund under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 if the payment was made by credit card and cost was over £100 per unit.

If there is no still recoverable cost from these sources, a travel insurance claim may be applicable where the policy covers UK travel. Some policies will only cover foreign travel, but more comprehensive policies will also cover UK travel.

Travel insurance policies differ so, if in doubt, customers should speak to their insurer or check the terms and conditions of their policy.

We have discussed with insurers the importance of insurance cover for Covid-19 in restoring consumers with the confidence to travel again. Firms assure us that they will look to extend cover again where and when they can. They are monitoring announcements by Government and reviewing their position as the situation evolves. We will continue to monitor this situation closely.

Regulatory responsibility for the consumer credit market, including credit cards, was transferred to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in 2014.

On 14 April, the FCA published guidance that sets out its expectation that firms provide, for a temporary period, exceptional and immediate support to customers facing payment difficulties due to circumstances arising from COVID-19. This includes granting the customer a payment deferral for 3 months.

Where a customer was in pre-existing financial difficulty, the FCA’s guidance makes clear that its existing forbearance rules would continue to apply. These would include, for example, the firm considering suspending, reducing, waiving, or cancelling any further interest or charges, deferring payment of arrears, or accepting token payments for a reasonable period of time.

The Government is committed to doing whatever it takes to get our nation through the impacts of COVID-19 and will continue to work closely with the FCA and industry on these matters.

The Government recognises that cash will remain important to the daily lives of millions of people during the Covid-19 outbreak, particularly to those in vulnerable groups.

The UK has a resilient cash supply system and the cash industry has well developed contingency arrangements. The Government is working closely with the cash industry and regulators to ensure that people continue to be able to access their cash.

The banking and finance industry has committed to support all customers who are impacted. Customers who are impacted are advised to temporarily use alternatives where possible - such as digital banking, telephone banking or the Post Office - or contact their account provider.