Caroline Nokes
Main Page: Caroline Nokes (Conservative - Romsey and Southampton North)Department Debates - View all Caroline Nokes's debates with the HM Treasury
(3 years, 10 months ago)
Commons ChamberWhat fiscal steps his Department is taking to support businesses affected by the covid-19 outbreak. [907764]
What fiscal steps his Department is taking to support businesses in sectors that remain subject to covid-19 restrictions. [907778]
What fiscal steps his Department is taking to support businesses affected by the covid-19 outbreak. [907783]
As a Lancastrian myself, I am acutely aware of the impact on the county of Lancashire, which is why my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government negotiated the additional business support. That builds on the measures set out by the Chancellor to support businesses not just through the job support scheme, but through the furlough bonus.
It is not just businesses in tiers 2 and 3 that have been impacted; in tier 1, some sectors are still unable to trade, suffering from a total loss of business. Does my right hon. Friend agree with the head of the IMF that
“now is not yet the time to balance the books”,
and will he consider extending support to businesses that still cannot work in these times?
My right hon. Friend is right about the pressure on businesses in tier 1 as well. That is why, in the package the Chancellor has set out, has been the extension of loan facilities to help those businesses with their cash flow. In the south-east region, which my right hon. Friend represents, the total is some £0.5 billion of support.