Having raised serious concerns about the level of uptake and the delivery of the Covid Business support schemes, I’m pleased that Her Majesty’s Treasury has heard and responds to some of the concerns over furloughing and the self employed.
More needs to be done, but the Latest update from Her Majesty’s Treasury HERE.
To note, people who have not submitted their Self Assessment tax return for the tax year 2018 to 2019, must do this by 23 April 2020 or they will not be able to claim.
HMRC will aim to contact people by mid May 2020 if they are eligible for the scheme and invite them to claim using the GOV.UK online service. Alternative methods to claim for those who are not online will be available.
Changes:
- A change to the Furlough Claim Dates: This means employers can now claim for furloughed employees that were employed and on their PAYE payroll on or before 19 March 2020, rather than the previous cut-off date of 28 February 2020.
- The Govt have also now issued guidance on how HMRC works out the total income and trading profits for the self employed though the income support scheme. HERE.
- The Chancellor has expanded the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme ahead of its launch on Monday, ensuring that no viable business slips through our safety net of support as we help protect jobs and the economy.
- Firms with a turnover of more than £45 million will now be able to apply for up to £25 million of finance, and up to £50 million for firms with a turnover of more than £250 million.
- Businesses with turnovers of more than £500 million were originally not eligible for the scheme – but the scheme has been extended after extensive consultation with businesses to ensure all viable firms are able to benefit from support.
- We said we would support our economy – and we meant it. Our unprecedented package of measures is one of the most generous in the world, and we are ensuring businesses are provided with the support they need during the pandemic, helping to provide job security to thousands of people and protect our economy
I welcome the Chancellors £750m+ charity package, which looks to help the Covid response provided by the voluntary sector, including hospices, Mind, Age UK and others and also to those supporting domestic abuse victims.
- £750 million pot for frontline charities across the UK – including hospices and those supporting domestic abuse victims.
- £360 million direct from Government departments and £370m for smaller charities, including through a grant to the National Lottery Community Fund.
- Government will match donations to the National Emergencies Trust as part of the BBC’s Big Night In fundraiser later this month – pledging a minimum of £20 million.
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Charities across the UK will receive a £750 million package of support to ensure they can continue their vital work during the coronavirus outbreak
Tens of thousands of charities providing vital services will benefit from direct cash grants to ensure they can meet increased demand as a result of the virus as well as continuing their day to day activities supporting those in need.
As part of a UK-wide package of support, £360 million will be directly allocated by Government departments to key charities providing key services and supporting vulnerable people during the crisis.
As well as this, £370 million for small and medium-sized charities, including through a grant to the National Lottery Community Fund for those in England, will support those organisations at the heart of local communities which are making a big difference during the outbreak, including those delivering food, essential medicines and providing financial advice.
The Chancellor also announced the government will match fund whatever the public decides to donate to the BBC’s Big Night In charity appeal on April 23rd, starting with a contribution of at least £20m to the National Emergencies Trust appeal.
This announcement builds on previous announcements by the Chancellor to support charities and businesses, including deferring their VAT bills, paying no business rates for their shops next year, and furloughing staff where possible with the Government paying 80% of their wages.
Charities providing vital services and helping vulnerable people through the current crisis will benefit from the £360 million allocated by Government departments.
These will include:
- Hospices to help increase capacity and give stability to the sector
- St Johns Ambulance to support the NHS
- Victims charities, including domestic abuse, to help with potential increase in demand for charities providing these services
- Vulnerable children charities, so they can continue delivering services on behalf of local authorities
- Citizens Advice to increase the number of staff providing advice during this difficult time
Departments will now work at pace to identify priority recipients, with the aim for charities to receive money in the coming weeks. The application system for the National Lottery Community Fund grant pot is expected to be operational within weeks as well.
Where charitable services are devolved the UK Government has applied the Barnett formula in the normal way. The devolved administrations are therefore being funded to provide a similar level of support to charities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Link to government Advice here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-sets-out-extra-750-million-coronavirus-funding-for-frontline-charities
Through close liaison with General Practitioners and Community Healthcare Providers in Mid Norfolk, I’ve been concerned to hear that the national and local logistics operation to get supplies of PPE to the frontline have taken a while leaving gaps in PPE here in parts of Norfolk. See here for a latest update from the head of Norfolk CCG on the situation as we go into Easter:
This page provides up-to-date information, guidance, and advice regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19).
As a local MP during this most critical time for our country, I believe I have three key responsibilities when carrying out my duties:
1. Representing Mid Norfolk’s views, queries and concerns to Ministers and their officials in Whitehall.
2. Disseminating and signposting Government information and NHS guidance.
3. Supporting local leaders with the response on the ground here in Norfolk.
Please see my latest video below:
For the latest medical advice, please visit the NHS website here and the Public Health England website here
For the latest Government advice, please visit the Gov.uk website here.
Community Assistance and Self-Isolation
If you or others in your local community are in one of the less at-risk categories and are able/willing to offer support to those in self-isolation, please do let me know at george.freeman.mp@parliament.uk
I intend to post information about these groups and individuals so that my constituents can see who is available to help in their areas.
If you are self-isolating, you may wish to download this poster (below), print it, and attach it to your front door:
Across Norfolk, many people are dropping these cards (below) through neighbours' doors to offer help:
Both flyers can be downloaded here and here.
I am self isolating. If you need to contact me, please
Viral Kindness Card "Hello! If you are self-isolating, I can help."
Links to further guidance
Guidance: COVID-19: guidance for employees, employers and businesses
Guidance for employees, employers and businesses in providing advice about the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
Detailed guide: Coronavirus (COVID-19): driving tests and theory tests
You should still go for your driving or theory test, unless you, someone you live with, your instructor or someone they live with have co
News story: Free childcare offers to continue during coronavirus closures
The Government will continue to pay funding to local authorities for the free entitlements for two, three and four-year-olds
Detailed guide: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Information for individuals and businesses in Wales
Use this page to navigate the latest guidance on the virus for people in Wales
Detailed guide: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and prisons
Guidance about visiting prisons during the coronavirus pandemic.
Press release: £3.2 million emergency support for rough sleepers during coronavirus outbreak
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick announces £3.2 million emergency funding to help rough sleepers to self-isolate.
Detailed guide: Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for local government
Guidance for local councils during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Detailed guide: Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK
Find out the number of cases and risk level in the UK, what to do if you have symptoms, and what the government is doing about the virus.
News story: New government structures to coordinate response to coronavirus
The Prime Minister has set up new ministerial structures to coordinate, prioritise and respond to the coronavirus pandemic across governm
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab gave a statement advising against all non-essential travel overseas in response to the coronavirus (COVID-
Detailed guide: Travel advice: coronavirus (COVID-19)
Guidance for British people travelling and living overseas during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
News story: Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for employees, employers and businesses
Information on healthcare advice for employers and support for businesses.
Collection: Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance
Find guidance about coronavirus (COVID-19) for health professionals and other organisations.
News story: New guidance for households with possible COVID-19 infection
Next stage of COVID-19 public information campaign highlights guidance for households with possible infection.
Detailed guide: Coronavirus (COVID-19): courts and tribunals planning and preparation
This page provides advice and guidance for all court and tribunal users during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and will be updated wh
Guidance: COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection
Stay at home guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.
Detailed guide: COVID-19 guidance for mass gatherings
Guidance and advice for those arranging or planning to attend events in the UK.
Guidance: COVID-19: guidance on social distancing and for vulnerable people
Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK and protecting older people and vulnerable people.
News story: Call for businesses to help make NHS ventilators
We are looking for businesses to support in the production and supply of ventilators and ventilator components.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock updated Parliament on the significant steps taken to control the spread of cor
Press release: Robert Jenrick reaffirms support for councils in their coronavirus response
The Local Government Secretary addressed over 300 council leaders and sector bodies in a call on the government’s response to coronavirus
Speech: PM statement on coronavirus: 16 March 2020
Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a statement on coronavirus.
Press release: Face-to-face health assessments for benefits suspended amid coronavirus outbreak
Claimants on disability benefits will no longer be required to attend face-to-face assessments.
News story: Government publishes updated COVID-19 industry guidance
New and updated industry guidance published on limiting the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), following last week’s shift to the ‘delay’
News story: Government and BBC's joint statement on delaying the TV licence fee for over 75s
Changes put in place in response to the coronavirus situation.
Press release: Braemar Cruise Ship: Foreign Office Statement
Evacuation flights from Cuba are being planned for passengers aboard the Braemar cruise ship in co-ordination with Fred Olsen Cruise Line
Speech: It’s a national effort to win coronavirus fight, we all have crucial part to play
Article by Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.
Guidance: COVID-19: guidance for staff in the transport sector
Guidance on COVID-19, including general precautions for staff and guidance on the assessment and management of arrivals into the UK.
Guidance: COVID-19: guidance for educational settings
Guidance for schools and other educational settings in providing advice about the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
Press release: Prime Minister to lead cross-government drive to defeat coronavirus
New daily press conferences to keep public informed on how to protect themselves.
Responses to the most common questions raised with me:
Issue: Self-employed
Question: What measures have been announced so far?
- The Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced a new Self-Employed Income Support Scheme.
- As the Chancellor said, the Government will pay self-employed people who have been adversely affected by the coronavirus a taxable grant worth 80% of their average monthly profits over the last three years, up to £2,500 a month.
- This scheme will be open to people across the UK for at least three months and will be extended for longer if necessary.
- More information on the Chancellor’s announcement of support for the self-employed can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-gives-support-to-millions-of-self-employed-individuals
Issue: Financial support for businesses Question: What is being provided?
- On 17 March, the Chancellor announced an unprecedented package of government support for businesses and the economy.
- £20bn of direct fiscal support for businesses in England is being provided through tax relief and cash grants to help businesses manage cash flow. This includes:
- £330bn worth of government-backed and guaranteed loans to support businesses across the UK, delivered through two schemes:
- A major new scheme being launched by the Bank of England, supporting liquidity among large firms through loans to help them bridge Coronavirus disruption to their cash flows;
- The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, which increases the amount businesses can borrow from £1.2m to £5m, and ensures businesses can access the first 6 months of that finance interest-free, through the Government covering the first 6 months of interest payments.
- Cash grants of up to £25,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with a rateable value of between £15,000 and £51,000.
- Extending the business rates holiday to all eligible properties in the retail, hospitality and leisure sector, irrespective of rateable value, so that all eligible businesses will pay no business rates for 12 months.
- A coronavirus job retention scheme.
- Detailed information is available on GOV.UK.
Issue: Basic guidance
Question: How can I take care of myself if I become infected?
- Seek prompt medical attention if your illness or the illness of any household members is worsening. If it’s not an emergency, contact NHS 111 online.
- If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. If it is an emergency and you need to call an ambulance, dial 999 and inform the call handler or operator that you or your relative have coronavirus symptoms.
- Drink water to keep yourself hydrated; you should drink enough during the day so your urine is a pale clear colour.
- You can use over-the-counter medications, such as paracetamol, to help with some of your symptoms. Use these according to the instructions on the packet or label and do not exceed the recommended dose.
Issue: Personal Protective Equipment
Question: Are sufficient supplies reaching the frontline?
- The Government has central stockpiles of a range of medical products and is working closely with industry, the NHS and others in the supply chain to ensure these are delivered to the frontline, including the social care sector.
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New figures show the scale of the operation to ensure steady supply in the coming weeks and months:
- On 19 March, 2.6 million face masks and 10,000 sanitisers went to Trusts in London;
- Over the course of three days, between 20 March and 23 March, more than 200 organisations, including all NHS hospitals, received further facemasks and PPE along with ambulance trusts and other NHS organisations;
- This week (w/c 23 March) supplies of the ‘FFP3’ sterile face masks are being delivered to NHS Trusts, including ambulance trusts;
- Home care providers, care homes, and hospices are receiving deliveries, with every provider receiving at least 300 facemasks;
- Every GP practice, dental practice and community pharmacy has now had a PPE delivery.
- The NHS has world-renowned critical care facilities which include access to 5000 adult and 900 paediatric critical care ventilators, with further ventilators available outside critical care facilities.
Issue: Immunity
Question: Can NHS workers/others who have had Covid-19 go back to work? Are they immune?
- As the Health Secretary has said: “I understand why NHS staff in particular and others across the public service are keen to get testing ramped up, we need to see and are undertaking. We’ve now bought 3.5 million antibody tests to see if people who have had the virus and are immune to it and can go back to work. In the Commons I was sat next to Nadine Dorries because she now has had coronavirus and is for the time being immune to it. We expect people not to catch it except in exceptional circumstances for a second time.”
Issue: Volunteers
Question: What is the latest advice on what is permitted?
- The advice is clear that everyone should stay at home, apart from in exceptional circumstances. They may leave their house to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.
- We are doing everything we can to support vulnerable people who are without a network of friends and families.
On the NHS Volunteer Responders scheme:
- The NHS is “rallying the troops” for the war on coronavirus, with volunteers being called up to help vulnerable people stay safe and well at home.
- We’ve had a fantastic response with over 500,000 people signing up so far.
- Members of the public can sign up quickly and easily at goodsamapp.org/NHS to become NHS Volunteer Responders, and can be called on to do simple but vital tasks such as:
- delivering medicines from pharmacies;
- driving patients to appointments;
- bringing them home from hospital;
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or making regular phone calls to check on people isolating at home.
- NHS Volunteer Responders is not intended to replace local groups helping their vulnerable neighbours but is an additional service provided by the NHS.
Issue: Vulnerable people
Question: What is being done to ensure they receive sufficient food / essential supplies?
A new Local Support System will make sure those individuals that have been identified by the NHS to stay at home, and are without a support network of friends and family, will receive basic groceries and medicine.
· Members of the armed forces are already supporting Local Resilience Forums to develop and implement their plans in support of this effort.
· National food distributors are working with the government to get the product, the food and supplies to homes.
Issue: Insurance
Question: What help / guidance is available on insurance queries?
- Ministers are aware of the issues around travel and business insurance and the volume of calls you are receiving.
- Support for businesses can be found on this gov.uk page:
https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/
Issue: Furlough
Question: Firms are using government schemes to furlough workers. How much flexibility is available?
- Ministers are aware of your questions around how flexible the scheme can be and what scope employers will have.
- Further details will be made available in due course. We are working night and day to get the scheme up and running.
Issue: Responsibilities of employers
Question: What should you do if your employer says you should still go to work?
- Employers need to play their part and be responsible about who actually needs to be in the office. We have been clear that you can only travel to work if the work which you are doing absolutely cannot be done from home.
- As the Deputy Chief Medical Officer has said: “If people don’t feel safe in [their] work environment they should raise those concerns. A majority of employers have been sensible and supportive to staff and [the] population in general.”
Issue: Pensions
Question: Will contributions be backdated? How will they be handled?
- Employers will be able to apply for a grant to cover the Employer National Insurance contributions and minimum automatic enrolment pension contributions on paying the lower of 80% of regular salary or £2,500 a month. Further guidance on this will be published in due course.
- The grant will start on the day you were placed on furlough and this can be backdated to 1 March.
- Further information on how it will operate will be published in due course.
Issue: House moves Question: What is the advice?
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Home buyers and renters should, as far as possible, delay moving to a new house while emergency measures are in place to fight coronavirus.
- If moving is unavoidable for contractual reasons, people must follow advice on social distancing to minimise the spread of the virus.
- Anyone with symptoms, self-isolating or shielding from the virus, should not consider moving house, unless there are exceptional health and safety circumstances.
Issue: MOT
Question: What is the latest position?
- Guidance is available here:
Issue: Caravan parks
Question: What is the latest guidance?
- Essential travel does not include visits to second homes, camp sites or caravan parks whether for isolation purposes or holidays.
- However, campsites and caravan parks should remain open where they are people’s main home and government legislation on banning evictions because of loss of income due to coronavirus will apply to these sites too.
Issue: Local authorities
Question: What guidance is available on how councils should meet?
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The government plans to consider bringing forward legislation to:
- remove the requirement for annual council meetings to take place in person.
- allow council committee meetings to be held virtually for a temporary period.
Issue: Domestic violence
Question: What is being done to combat this?
- The government is absolutely committed to protecting victims of domestic abuse which is a heinous crime, and ensuring survivors can access a safe place with support when they need it.
- Existing sources of advice and support continue to be available to victims – including for example through the National Domestic Abuse Helpline, which is staffed 24 hours a day, every day of the year, by a dedicated team of experts.
- The government is doing everything we can to support domestic abuse service providers to keep vital refuge and safe accommodation provision up and running during the COVID-19 emergency.
- Officials are in daily contact with the domestic abuse sector to understand the additional challenges they are facing and how best to respond to help support services in these unprecedented times.
- We will work closely with the sector and the DA commissioner to monitor whether demand for domestic abuse safe accommodation is rising.
Issue: School vouchers
Question: When will these be received?
- Free school meals guidance is already available to ensure no eligible child goes hungry. It is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools
- This page will be updated as soon as vouchers are ready.
Issue: Childminders
Question: What guidance is available?
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Guidance is available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures#childminders
Issue: UK nationals abroad Question: What is the latest advice?
- You can find the latest travel advice here: www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus
- The Government is now strongly recommending that if you live in the UK and are currently travelling abroad, whether working or on holiday abroad, you should consider returning now, where there are still commercial routes available.
- However, you should keep in mind that flights may be cancelled at short notice or other travel restrictions may be put in place by foreign governments.
- Ministers are aware of the issue of people needing accommodation and people running out of funds, and on the issue of people running out of their prescription meds.
