John Baron MP welcomes increased Treasury support for High Tier Areas

MP says Government will continue to offer support

This afternoon the Chancellor announced increased financial support for businesses and workers, in particular for those in the High Tier areas such as Essex.

The Jobs Support Scheme Open will have its employer contribution for unworked hours reduced to 5%, and the minimum hours requirements will be reduced to 20% so those working just one day a week will be eligible. Employees on the scheme will receive at least 73% of their wages, where their normal salary does not exceed the cap. Employers will continue to receive the £1,000 Jobs Retention Bonus if eligible, and the Jobs Support Scheme Closed for businesses legally required to close remains unchanged.

There will also be cash grants of up to £2,100 per month primarily for businesses in the hospitality, accommodation and leisure sector adversely affected by the High Tier restrictions. These grants will be available retrospectively, and could benefit around 150,000 businesses across England which are not legally required to close but which have been adversely affected nevertheless. Local authorities will have discretion to decide on the precise eligibility criteria and size of the grants.

For the self-employed, the amount of profits covered by the two forthcoming self-employed grants will increase from 20% to 40%, meaning the maximum grant will increase from £1,875 to £3,750. This will potentially represent a further £3.1 billion of support for the self-employed for the period November 2020 – January 2021, with a further grant to follow for February – April 2021.

John said,

“The Government has committed a package of over £200 billion to help support businesses and jobs since the beginning of the pandemic, and it will continue to take bold steps to offer support when required.”

“I am pleased with the raft of announcements today, as they will especially support those businesses which are not required to close but which are nevertheless experiencing reduced demand because of higher coronavirus restrictions.”

Notes to Editors:

• For more information about the Jobs Support Scheme, please visit: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/928761/JSS_Open_factsheet.pdf.

• For more information about the grants for businesses, please visit: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/928760/BUSINESS_GRANTS_FACTSHEET.pdf.

• For more information about the self-employed income support scheme grant extension, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/self-employment-income-support-scheme-grant-extension/self-employment-income-support-scheme-grant-extension.