Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Clive Lewis Excerpts
Tuesday 7th July 2020

(4 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Steve Barclay Portrait Steve Barclay
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The hon. Gentleman will know that the cost for local councils will be uncertain for some time, not least in terms of the impact of lost tax income. That is why we have addressed the short-term pressure through the £3.7 billion grant and additional funding that has been allocated, including the recent £600 million for infection control.

Clive Lewis Portrait Clive Lewis (Norwich South) (Lab)
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What assessment he has made of the potential merits of including a four-day working week as part of the Government's covid-19 recovery strategy.

Kemi Badenoch Portrait The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Kemi Badenoch)
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The Prime Minister recently set out the first steps of the Government’s strategy to rebuild and fuel economic recovery in response to covid-19. The Government believe the best way to secure a recovery is to invest across the UK to level up, while ensuring that we create the conditions for private enterprise to flourish.

Clive Lewis Portrait Clive Lewis [V]
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The Chancellor will have received a letter signed by Members from across the House, including myself, asking him to consider introducing a four-day working week as a way of helping the country recover and creating a better future post-covid-19. So will he commit to the Treasury exploring a four-day working week as part of its economic planning for the recovery? Will he also meet me and other Members to discuss how we can work together to make shorter working times a reality?

Kemi Badenoch Portrait Kemi Badenoch
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The Government believe that the best way of dealing with these issues is for workers to look at existing options available for flexible working and discuss them directly with their employers, rather than the Government legislating for the entire UK work- force. However, I am happy to meet the hon. Gentleman to discuss this topic further, if he would like.